Tony Whittingham Posted August 12, 2018 Share Posted August 12, 2018 (edited) Hello All, I have received a photo of a Hudson and crew, with the Squadron code of C3. Anyone have any idea which OTU this is, and the location? TWp Edited August 13, 2018 by Tony Whittingham Add photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 (edited) C3 is not recorded as an RAF unit code, but 1(Coastal) OTU operated Hudsons from Silloth using a letter/number combination. Edited August 13, 2018 by Graham Boak Addition of RAF for clarification after the following post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossington 2 Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Hmmmm. Not a straightforward one this. C3 has links to 711, 785, 786, 800 and 815 Squadrons, but these are FAA units. (at Crail mostly and equiped with Avengers, Barracudas etc) Source: Combat Codes, Flintham/Andrews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 (edited) Hi read ' mid 43 ' here http://www.hrmtech.com/sig/articles/coastal_cam.asp might it be that it was the third squadron on a coastal command base ? cheers jerry Edited August 13, 2018 by brewerjerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Nice thought, but Combat Codes shows no Hudson units using 3 - or indeed any Coastal Command squadrons using Hudsons with this type of code. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 111 OTU, Bahamas, converted crews to US types and did anti-submarine patrols. One of their letter codes was C As the OP is in Canada perhaps this OTU another OTU using Hudsons for training was 75, in the middle-east, code letter not known to me If the OP could show us the photo there might be other clues, eg the serial number, if visible, might tell us to which unit(s) it was sent to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whittingham Posted August 13, 2018 Author Share Posted August 13, 2018 Hi all, I’ve added the photo to the original post. The two leftmost men are members of the second group of Barbadian volunteers in the RAF, C.P. King, and E. W. Barrow, who would become the first prime minister. TW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 On that info I hold with 111 OTU, in Bahamas. OTU code C, with individual aircraft being 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whittingham Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 Thank you, gentlemen! Further investigation narrowed the search to either 111 OTU, or 31 OTU. I’m leaning toward 31 OTU, as it was equipped with Hudsons and Ansons, while 111 OTU was equipped with Mitchell/ Liberator aircraft. No one in the photo looks very warm, even though it’s a bright day, and they’re not in tropical kit. So, perhaps not the Bahamas. Still looking for further evidence. TW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 That dark line running diagonally down from top right is reminiscent of the lanyard stuck on the outside of Barracudas to release the dinghy. I don't recall seeing it, or anything like it, on Hudsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whittingham Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 I don’t remember that on Hudsons either. But it does go directly to the door, which is where I thought the dinghy would be. You can faintly see the door outline. TW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 51 minutes ago, Tony Whittingham said: I don’t remember that on Hudsons either. But it does go directly to the door, which is where I thought the dinghy would be. You can faintly see the door outline. TW I think you're right, Tony- isn't the life raft container attached to the inside of the entry door on a Hudson? If so, that would account for the lanyard going to the door. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 On the Barracuda the gunner pulled the lanyard from his rear cockpit. Who pulls it in this case? Is it done from the top of the fuselage whilst the aircraft floats on the water? Is there an exit on top of the fuselage - hatch for the astrodome, perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 35 minutes ago, 72modeler said: I think you're right, Tony- isn't the life raft container attached to the inside of the entry door on a Hudson? If so, that would account for the lanyard going to the door. Mike Yes, it on the inside of the door. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrp Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 It could be either 31 OTU at Debert NS, or 36 OTU at Greenwood, NS. Both were RAF run OTU's. A large number of training missions were actually anti-submarine patrols. No 31 was used to supplement Eastern Air Command operational squadrons. In fact a number of Hudsons were kept just for anti-submarine operations. I am actually involved in the restoration of a Hudson, FK466 that actually flew at Debert and participated in a number of anti-submarine patrols. A Hudson from 31 OTU actually attacked a U-Boat during one of these "training missions" on 15th May, 1943. I would note from the style and placement of the "C3", that this is more than likely 31 OTU. The Hudsons were dived into various flights, like "A", "B" and "C". This would be a "C Flight" Hudson. Mark 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whittingham Posted August 14, 2018 Author Share Posted August 14, 2018 (edited) Thanks Mark! I was definitely leaning toward 31 OTU! It’s also interesting that there’s almost no contrast between the colours. Either this is a very weathered temperate land scheme, or a temperate sea scheme. Chris’s photo shows a fresh land scheme. Thanks again! TW Edited August 15, 2018 by Tony Whittingham Correct picture post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 By the date of the roundel, TSS is far more likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whittingham Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) On 8/14/2018 at 1:06 PM, mrp said: It could be either 31 OTU at Debert NS, or 36 OTU at Greenwood, NS. Both were RAF run OTU's. A large number of training missions were actually anti-submarine patrols. No 31 was used to supplement Eastern Air Command operational squadrons. In fact a number of Hudsons were kept just for anti-submarine operations. I am actually involved in the restoration of a Hudson, FK466 that actually flew at Debert and participated in a number of anti-submarine patrols. A Hudson from 31 OTU actually attacked a U-Boat during one of these "training missions" on 15th May, 1943. I would note from the style and placement of the "C3", that this is more than likely 31 OTU. The Hudsons were dived into various flights, like "A", "B" and "C". This would be a "C Flight" Hudson. Mark Hello All, MRP was kind enough to share some photos of 31 OTU aircraft with me, and one of the photos has a Hudson with the external lanyard, but this time there is a serial number visible. It does not appear to be the same airframe as I posted, so there potentially two Hudsons with this modification. I may also have another: a RAF Hudson, 279 sqn. OS-T with a lifeboat attached, looks as if it might have the mod as well. Below is the photo from MRP. regards, TW Edited August 17, 2018 by Tony Whittingham correct flicker upload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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