cherisy Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Hi all I am in the process of building the Airfix Lanc as DV385 "Thumper" of 617 sqn as she looked at the time of the Tirpitz raids using a Paragon Tallboy set. Two questions: she carried the codes KC A and I believe T and V . What code letter was she wearing for the Tirpitz raids? I've seen some photos of 617 Lancasters at that time that appear to have red codes outlined on yellow with the code repeated on the elevators. But can find no evidence that Thumper did. Can anyone shed any light? Thanks in advance Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthies Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 DV385 'Thumper' flew on the second and third Tirpitz attacks, piloted by P/O Castagnola and coded KC-V as per the 617 ORB. There is photographic proof that on the first raid in September 1944 the Lancasters had the red codes with yellow outlines which were introduced across 5 Group in the autumn of that year, so they must have had them on the latter two raids as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy G Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 (edited) Does anybody know of a source for the yellow outlined codes in 72nd scale? I’m looking at doing Willy Tait’s plane from the third raid later this year. Edited June 20, 2019 by Andy G Added scale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7203 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7204 (You may need the 36" codes if the aircraft carried codes above and below the tailplane. But my recollection is that that was peculiar to GRAND SLAM aircraft.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delticfan Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 Just been showing my wife this thread, her mother worked for many years with Sqn Ldr Larry Curtis who was on the Tirpitz raid not sure which one, does anyone know the aircraft he flew in, not often you get a commission to build from the Mrs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy G Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Seahawk said: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7203 https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7204 (You may need the 36" codes if the aircraft carried codes above and below the tailplane. But my recollection is that that was peculiar to GRAND SLAM aircraft.) Thank you Seahawk. Edited June 20, 2019 by Andy G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherisy Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 KC V with yellow outlined codes it is then. Many thanks Matthies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthies Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 F/Lt Larry Curtis flew in the crew of Nick Knilans on the first Tirpitz raid in LK492, KC-W. Both 9 & 617 carried code letters on the tailplanes on the Tirpitz raids too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delticfan Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 23 minutes ago, matthies said: F/Lt Larry Curtis flew in the crew of Nick Knilans on the first Tirpitz raid in LK492, KC-W. Both 9 & 617 carried code letters on the tailplanes on the Tirpitz raids too. Great info thank you, looks like a summer project coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafetyDad Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 A little late to the party here, but a very detailed source of information for 617Sq Lancasters is Stephen Flower's 'Barnes Wallis' Bombs' Amberley 2002. Every raid using Upkeep, Tallboy and Grand Slam is recorded, with all participating aircraft listed by serial, code letter and crew pilot. Some great narrative accounts of the raids, plus excellent pictures and maps. Most valuable perhaps for the modeller is the meticulous detailing of all the alterations made (meaning equipment discarded and changed) to the B1 Specials. I wasn't aware Lincoln wheels and tyres were used from March 1945 for example. Well worth having. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EwenS Posted June 23, 2019 Share Posted June 23, 2019 It was originally published under the title A Hell of a Bomb. Not sure what differences there are but with the change of title the number of pages grew! Bigger print? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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