Early Hawker Typhoon 609 sdn with bombs

[doorgunner]

Hello I am planning to build a car door type hawker Typhoon with PR codes from 609 sdn. I am choosing between F, G and D side code. F is really famous and the others too are cool but...I would like to know if they all ever carried underwings bombs.

I would like to fit them, but am not able to find any picture of the code letter I mentioned with such external load. Only model kit's box art are really full of bombs hanging or dropping.

What was the reality ?

Thanks a lot in advance

Maurizio 

[Graham Boak]

The story has it that the Typhoon had failed as a high level interceptor, so that in order to prevent cancellation Beaumont was strongly committed to using in in a low-level role.  Thus 609 began to carry bombs, presumably the 500lb ones associated with the type but possibly 250 pounders first.  This sounds like a fairly typical tale hiding a large amount of previous work behind the scenes by less prestigious individuals, but there is no doubt that 609 Typhoons did carry bombs. As to which serials may have left the squadron before this, I don't know, but every code letter will have seen such use.  It is the serials that count, and the dates of the photograph.

 

[Chris Thomas]

Hell Maurizio, that is a well-posed question.  Sqn Ldr Roland Beamont dropped 609 son's first bombs from a Typhoon during two practice bombing exercises on 13 and 14 April 1943.  The bombs were 250lb concrete practice bombs and the Typhoon used on both occasions was DN547 PR-S, which was the only bomber Typhoon the squadron possessed at the time.  A month later, on May 14, Flg Off Van Lierde dropped their first bombs (2 x 250lb) in anger during a night intruder; he was also flying the same PR-S.  There are photos of this aircraft in various publications.  The above information comes from the Squadrons Operations Record Book plus Beamont's and Van Lierde's log books.

 

So PR-G, Beamont's personal aircraft, R7752, nor Lallemant's PR-D, R7855 never carried bombs and PR-F, DN406 PR-F Peter Raw's Typhoon is also unlikely to have carried them.  Presumably these are the 3 aircraft in your decal choices.  Most of the first half of 1943 (when all the aircraft mentioned operated) 609 was a dedicated fighter squadron (other Typhoon units were 'bombers' eg, 3, 181 and 182 Sqns).  609 were heavily engaged in defensive patrols with occasional escort to other squadrons engaged in bombing (Typhoons, Whirlwinds, medium bombers etc).

 

 

Edited April 5, 2020 by Chris Thomas
PR-S was the only Typhoon bomber at the time ...

[brewerjerry]

Hi Chris, 

               Thread drift,

 

as a morale booster 

 

 

   any  excellent new books planned in the future

 

   cheers

      jerry 

 

[doorgunner]

Hello Chris thanks so much for your specification. I can't find any pic of PR-S..maybe it could be the choosen one !

PR-F seems to be a good choice..there is a very good pic with many many paint touch up in the nose and fin.

I was also tempted by a conversion to transform the a/c into a very early MK I with machine guns armament. I saw a profile of JG with a rank pennant but cannot find a pic of the aircraft. Was it based exclusively from reports or a pic existed ?

Tia Maurizio 

 

[brewerjerry]

Hi

 

  R7684    JG   W/Cdr. John Grady of duxford wing 

 

     his aircraft later went to the newly formed 193 Sqn at Harrowbeer  

 

    and was at least was recorded in the logbook of the then F/Lt Beake 

    

  no doubt chris will correct if my memory of my research is wrong 

 

    I think Grady's logbook was lost when he was in the middle east ? 

 

  it would be great if there is a photo 

 

     cheers

         jerry 

Edited April 5, 2020 by brewerjerry

[Chris Thomas]

Hi Jerry.  Well I'm pulling together material for a possible Tempest II album.  Longer term I'd like to do something on Fighter Command Typhoons but don't know if I can summon the commitment!  The older I get (it seems to keep happening) the harder it gets. I've never found a photo of Sir John Grandy's 'JG'.  I think the only original illustration was from Mike Bowyer's spotting notes and appeared in his 'Fighting Colours.  It was with Duxford Station Flight from 25 April 42 to 22 January 43 when, as you say, it went to 193 Sqn.

 

Maurizio, if you can get away from the desire to hang bombs on your Typhoon, the aircraft you mention, D, F, and G, are much better documented than PR-S.   I did a comprehensive and fully illustrated article on PR-G for MAM some 14 years ago and can send scans if you pm me with your email.  From autumn 1942 to spring 43, Typhoon markings saw a number of changes and PR-G is illustrated in 6 different guises.  I'll also find someone to post some photos of PR-F and PR-D for me.

Tally Ho!

Chris

[doorgunner]

Hello everybody, Chris was so kind enough to help me with my build and also provided few great images of the planes. He kinly requested to post them to the benefit of all Britmodeller Typhoon's fan.

Thank you Chris

 

[doorgunner]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 6, 2020 by doorgunner
wrong pics

[doorgunner]