06/24 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Constant Endeavour As I type this, the nation is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. The outcome of WW1’s largest naval battle may have been indecisive, but it marked the final fleet action between battleships. Subsequent naval engagements have tended to be on a more tactical level, with small groups of hunters and killers at work. But one thing above all else changed the face of naval warfare. Air Power. Once planes became more than string and sealing wax, they took new tactics and threats aloft with them. Nothing personified this more than the actions of the Banff Strike Wing, as it sought to deny the Axis powers the use of the Norwegian Coast and the North Sea for raw material transport. ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: COASTAL COMMAND. © IWM (C 5212)IWM Non Commercial Licence But they were not the only units operating from Scotland. Many other flights across the unforgiving North Sea also operated, and among these were the famous Mosquitos operated as fast transports, by BOAC. BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION AND QANTAS, 1940-1945.. © IWM (CH 14389)IWM Non Commercial Licence One of two memorials to the crews of Coastal Command is situated in North Berwick RAF Coastal Command Memorial by jongwinnett, on Flickr The text of the memorial reads: TRIBUTE TO ROYAL AIR FORCE COASTAL COMMAND IN SCOTLAND During the Second World War, aircraft of Royal Air Force Coastal Command operated from the 27 Scottish bases depicted on this map display under control from a headquarters at Pitreavie Castle in Fife. The British Isles presented a physical barrier to the submarines and ships of the German Navy, around which they had to navigate before they could operate against Britain’s vital shipping lifelines across the Atlantic Ocean. The first task of the maritime and photo reconnaissance squadrons, operating from these bases, was therefore to search for and attack enemy submarines and warships attempting to sail around the north of Scotland or through the Faeroes-Iceland gap. Patrols from bases on the East Coast also swept out across the North Sea towards the coasts of Norway and Denmark on reconnaissance and anti-shipping strikes in the face of fierce opposition against German convoys sailing down the Norwegian coast. Others, took off from the West Coast and flew far out into the Atlantic constantly searching for U-boats and raiders deployed to attack our convoys carrying food, war materials and men to Britain from Canada and the United States. German naval units were also based in Norway, following the occupation of that country, making the tasks of Coastal Command yet more difficult with its aircraft operating over the inhospitable waters of the far north, to stop the U-boats reaching the Atlantic and also to support our convoys sailing to Russia round the north of Norway. Among other roles, the meteorological squadrons, operating at long range over the Atlantic in all weathers, were pivotal to the success of Bomber Command and in preparing for the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944. While the Air Sea Rescue launches, deployed around the Scottish coastline, played their crucial part in the rescue from the sea of airmen and seamen, both friend and foe. In their long and demanding patrols across the featureless expanse of the ocean searching for the enemy, the crews of Coastal Command faced danger not only from enemy attack, but also from extreme weather. In contributing to the Command’s overall task, and its magnificent record of 189 submarines sunk and a million tons of enemy shipping sunk or disabled, many made the supreme sacrifice. But by their courage and perseverance - as for those of a later Cold War age - they helped preserve the freedoms we now enjoy. The self-sacrifice of the crews of all units was enormous, and my humble skills will, I hope, produce some fitting tributes to them all. Some of the raw materials can be seen below: Next projects by jongwinnett, on Flickr 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 This looks ace... Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Thanks Rob. Doing a little wine assisted research this evening ROYAL AIR FORCE COASTAL COMMAND, 1939-1945.. © IWM (HU 1626)IWM Non Commercial Licence 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945: ROYAL AIR FORCE. COASTAL COMMAND.. © IWM (CH 9767)IWM Non Commercial Licence 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: COASTAL COMMAND. © IWM (HU 90821)IWM Non Commercial Licence ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: COASTAL COMMAND. © IWM (C 5274)IWM Non Commercial Licence ROYAL AIR FORCE COASTAL COMMAND, 1939-1945.. © IWM (CH 17876)IWM Non Commercial Licence 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 An interesting looking project and some great photos too! Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I'm in for this one Jon I went up to Macduff a couple of years ago with my dad and Banff is across a small river from there, it looked a lovely little town too but the airfield was well to the west of it at Boyndie - it's hard to imagine such a peaceful place being the source of such a concentrated amount of force. The 25lb solid-shot rockets shown being fitted in a couple of the photo's were found to be as effective against shipping as the explosive type, but the 60lb HE rockets as supplied in the Airfix kit were used for flak suppression so if you are building a rocket Beau you can fit them with a clear conscience - alternatively the Tamiya Mosquito FBVI/NFII kit contains the solid shot rockets... and of course none of the foregoing is relevant if you are building a Torbeau Looking forward to seeing your progress, Cheers, Stew 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 The 25lb solid-shot rockets shown being fitted in a couple of the photo's were found to be as effective against shipping as the explosive type, but the 60lb HE rockets as supplied in the Airfix kit were used for flak suppression so if you are building a rocket Beau you can fit them with a clear conscience - alternatively the Tamiya Mosquito FBVI/NFII kit contains the solid shot rockets... and of course none of the foregoing is relevant if you are building a Torbeau There's a FBVI on its way to me, so the plan is to do one each Torbeau and rocket equipped. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 An ambitious and fascinating project Jon - can't wait to see what you come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 Some research material turned up tonight Research! by jongwinnett, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 I've made a start on the Torpedo armed Beau, boring photo, just interior green so far! Untitled by jongwinnett, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 I've made a start on the Torpedo armed Beau, boring photo, just interior green so far! Untitled by jongwinnett, on Flickr Nice new avatar. That looks like a cracking read!! Yery nice perchase. Also well done on getting some paint down. Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 Avatar is one of my favourite warbirds. Waiting for soemone to do the "Miss Pick Up" transfers in 1/72 and then i'll be building her! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 That's me hooked then Great research and great subjects - well done Jon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Agreed Jon, painting the interior green isn't particularly exciting but it gets the ball rolling... Cheers, Stew 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 More green (i'll spare you a photo) and more research: More research by jongwinnett, on Flickr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Hmm interesting to see that whoever built the Beau on the cover of the "Beaufighter Squadrons in Focus" book made as neat a job of fitting the nosecone as I did on the Airfix kit I got my dad the Banff Strike Wing book for Christmas, it's a good historical overview but perhaps less useful as a modelling resource. Cheers, Stew 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 I just purchased the 'In Focus' book on 8th AF B-24's and was sorely tempted by the Mosquito edition, but the shipping from the UK was beginning to be more than the books. Nice green work Jon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Wee email today from Hannants to say the transfers are being despatched, and a chance to visit North Berwick (and East Fortune) for some inspiration. IMG_2303 by jongwinnett, on Flickr IMG_2305 by jongwinnett, on Flickr IMG_2301 by jongwinnett, on Flickr 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Looks like a great place to visit! And glad to see this is still in process. Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 But they were not the only units operating from Scotland. Many other flights across the unforgiving North Sea also operated, and among these were the famous Mosquitos operated as fast transports, by BOAC. BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION AND QANTAS, 1940-1945.. © IWM (CH 14389)IWM Non Commercial Licence Not only Mosquitos were operated by BOAC on this service, but a variety of types, including Lockheed Super Electra, Hudson & Lodestar; Whitley, Liberator, Dakota; and occasionally Curtiss CW-20, a single York, and possibly a Lancaster. Nils 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Indeed Nils, and a huge thank you for all your research which makes modelling these BOAC craft so much easier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 For those who are interested, a book on the Stockholm Run will soon be released by MMP Books (http://mmpbooks.biz/ksiazki/328). There is also an article in the current (#16) issue of The Aviation Historian (http://www.theaviationhistorian.com/). Nils 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 I can't believe this project has been on the shelf of doom for 18 months, but I have made a tentative restart. The Airfix dogfight double box features this well known survivor of the "Black Friday" raid: ROYAL AIR FORCE COASTAL COMMAND, 1939-1945.. © IWM (CH 17875)IWM Non Commercial Licence Since there seems to be no sign of RP rails in this immediate after action shot, I think I'll use this one as my Torbeau. The RP equipped one will be a 404 squadron machine for contrast. Note the camera nose, not sure if the kit features this or if I'll need to bodge scratchbuild one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 A couple of shots from the Australian War Memorial of the events of 9 February 1945. Both noted by the AWM as public domain A brief history of this devastating action can be found here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(1945) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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