Grey Beema

@Our Ned You are a diamond - Thank you..

Thanks Wellsprop, I found some artwork online that attributes XZ451/006 as Ward’s usual mount but as you say, what was he flying on the dates he made claims? I’m kind of hoping that someone will be along in a minute with the definitive list (a photo of both sides of the aircraft, in colour, before launch and after recovery would also be handy)...

You are absolutely right John 01.06.82. 10:45 Hercules C130E of FAA Transport Grupo 1 shot down 50 miles North Pebble Island. All seven Crew killed. Cmdr Ward RN using Sidewinder & 30mm Cannon.

For a Falklands Group Build I want to enter into, I have bought the 1/48 Kinetics Sea Harrier FRS1. I would like to build it as an aircraft that fits into my general theme of Royal Navy Aces or significant victories. With that in mind I thought there was loads of information on the web which would help me to identify Serial Numbers and Side numbers for the following aircraft, then I could look for appropriate photographs and decal sets. For all of my looking I can’t seem to find information that ties a serial number to an Air to Air victory. Can anybody help me by either identify these particular Sea Harriers for me (see below) or point me in the right direction so I can go and look them up? Unfortunately, having mainly a WWII focus I’m not very well up in Cold War aircraft and only have a poor set of references. 01.05.82 4.10 pm. Mirage IIIEA of FAA Grupo 8 shot down north of West Falkland. Lt Perona ejected safely. - Flt Lt Barton RAF of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 01.05.82 4.40 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down over East Falkland. Lt Ardiles killed. - Flt Lt Penfold RAF of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 01.05.82 5.45 pm. Canberra B.62 of FAA Grupo 2 shot down north of Falklands. Lt Ibanez and Gonzalez ejected but are not rescued. - Lt Curtiss RN of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 12.10 pm. Pucara of FAA Grupo 3 shot down near Darwin. Major Tomba ejected. - Cmdr Ward RN of 801 NAS using 30mm cannon 21.05.82 1.05 pm. A-4C Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 4 shot down near Chartres, West Falkland. Lt Lopez killed. - Lt Cmdr Blissetts RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 1.05 pm. A-4C Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 4 shot down near Chartres, West Falkland. Manzotti killed. - Lt Cmdr Thomas RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 2.35 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down near Teal River Inlet, West Falkland. Lt Luna ejected. - Lt Cmdr Frederiksen RN of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 2.50 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Port Howard, West Falkland. Maj Piuma ejected. - Lt Thomas RN of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 2.50 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Port Howard, West Falkland. Capt Donaldille ejected. - Lt Thomas RN of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 2.50 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Port Howard, West Falkland. Lt Senn ejected. - Cmdr Ward RN of 801 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 3.12 pm. A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc shot down near Swan Island in Falkland Sound. Lt Cmdr Philippi ejected. - Lt Morrell RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 21.05.82 3.12 pm. A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc also shot down near Swan Island in Falkland Sound Lt Marquez was killed. - Flt Lt Leeming RAF of 800 NAS using 30mm cannon 21.05.82 3.30 pm. A-4Q Skyhawk of CANA 3 Esc damaged over Falkland Sound by small arms fire from HMS Ardent and again in same incident as above. Unable to land at Stanley with undercarriage problems and Lt Arca ejected. - Lt Morrell RN of 800 NAS using 30mm cannon 23.05.82 4.00 pm. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down over Pebble Island. Lt Volponi killed. - Lt Hale RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 24.05.82 11.15 am. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Pebble Island. Maj Puga ejected. - Lt Cmdr Auld of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 24.05.82 11.15 am. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Pebble Island. Capt Diaz ejected. - Lt Cmdr Auld of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 24.05.82 11.15 am. Dagger A of FAA Grupo 6 shot down north of Pebble Island. Lt Castillo killed. - Lt D Smith RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 08.06.82 4.45 pm. A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over Choiseul Sound. Lt Arraras killed. - Flt Lt Morgan RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 08.06.82 4.45 pm. A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over Choiseul Sound. Lt Bolzan killed. - Flt Lt Morgan RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder 08.06.82 4.45 pm. A-4B Skyhawk of FAA Grupo 5 shot down over Choiseul Sound. Ensign Vazquez killed. - Lt D Smith RN of 800 NAS using Sidewinder Thanks in advance.

Yup did mine as 3mm wide for 1/48 which works out to 6”.

Funnily enough I was looking at this before Christmas for a 1/48 Escort Carrier base for a Hellcat I. This was built up in PowerPoint so I could print it on a sticky label and put that in turn onto a foam board square. I think I estimated the plank size from a photo - if you like I’ll measure up a bit later on and see what I came up with. Remember there is a strip if tie down metal pierced plank once every 16 planks I think I counted. Hope it helps..

Martlet MkVs I think. HMS Persuer or Maybe Searcher I think I’ll check in the morning..

Lovely looking 5NFW Hellcat - well done.

Thanks Lee. Always worth asking every now and again - just in case. That Hellcat will just have to stay in the stash for now. I’ll do Bill Foster’s Hellcat that he used to rob Bill Atkinson’s Mytr in the meantime...

Thanks Ian, it was worth a try. It’s not in Atkinson’s log book either..

@Lee Howard @iang whilst you’re there Lee & Ian, would either of you (I’ve asked Ian before), have a side number for Hellcat II JW779 which was either an 1839 or 1844 NAS Aircraft - HMS Indomitable flown by SLt WHI Atkinson 12.04.45? I am distantly related to Bill Atkinson and would love to model this aircraft.. Thanks in advance..

This may not be a lot of help and you have probably seen it before but I have referred to it quite often. http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm

Super job Tony. Another worthy addition to the cabinets...

L2927/A Flown by CO 803 NAS (Lt Cmd JM Bruen) Ark Royals Sky Blue undersides.. Hope this helps..

Great work there Tony. Yes I found pictures of your model whilst doing a web search yesterday. Great model, I love it. I only hope that mine comes out nearly as good as yours.. I do have a problem though. I am going to have to extend my display case. The Swordfish, Albacore and Avenger are not small aeroplanes, added to which I also have a Walrus in WIP, three Fulmars (Brabner, Bruen & Sewell), three Hellcats (Atkinson, Foster, Wilson) and a Corsair (Sheppard) in the stash and need to procure yet more including a Barracuda... Ikea, get one of those Billy bookcases dusted off, I’m on my way...