Mosquito radar question...

[Edgar]

I should have added that there are movement cards at the PRO, as well as the RAF Museum. If you decide to go, and need directions, let me know.

Edgar

[Jazzy Jase]

I finally got a response from the RAF museum at Hendon. A letter arrived in the post this morning. It said:

"RE: SQUADRON CODE ENQUIRY

Thank you for your enquiry received on 19th February 2009. Please find enclosed copies of the Movement Cards for HR241 and NS850. As you can see, HR241 was never with 218 [*I Think that is a typo for 418*] squadron, rather 1692 Flight and 169 Squadron. 169 Squadron did use radar on their Mosquitos. The codes for theses units are 4X and VI, respectively. It would be difficult to find out what the individual letter for the aircraft was. The best source would probably be the Squadron Operations Record Books at the National Archives, Kew.

I think you are right that TH-M is the wrong code for HR241. It is not unusual for several aircraft within the same unit to have the same code as they were reused when aircraft were destroyed. However, HR241 was not in the same unit as NS850. TH-M is the correct code for 418 Squadron.

I hope this information is of use and thank you for your interest in the Museum and its collections."

The movement cards included are photocopies and rather hard to read. I will scan them and post them here once I get to a scanner.

NS850's Movement Card says:

MOSQUITO VI NS850

De Havilland Hatfield 555 Merlin 25

418 Sq 19.2.44.

Cat E (date illegible)

There's loads of stuff for HR241. It's hard to make out but I think it says: (I've x out the bits I can't make out.)

(Aircaft type blank) VI HR241

STANDARD MOTOR CO 1680 Merlin 25

27MU 3.6.44

218 MU 8.7.44

1692 169 sqn 18.9.44 B200

1692 flt 31.12.44 B515

M I Marshalls 24.1.45

HOME CENSUS MARCH xxxx

xxxxx 24.5.46 CRO

21.6.46 mu - 10 xxx 1623/6/ 21.6.46

(I can't make out the next line)

I think there is enough proof there to say that HR241 did not serve on 418 squadron, so I don't think I need to make a trip to Kew.

Any comments ?

Edited March 21, 2009 by Jazzy Jase

[Jazzy Jase]

Movement Cards as promised:

[timbo33]

Jase,

Looks like the decals and the Warpaint Special are wrong then!!! Just goes to show doesn't it.....

Your problem now is finding another suitable D-Day candidate?? NS850 TH-M 'Black Rufe' is the subject of the Airfix 1/48 FB.VI 2 of which are sitting on my shelf...and it is conspicuously bereft of D-Day markings, though credited as being represented as the aircraft was at Middle Wallop in August 1944. Maybe they never painted D-Day stripes on this aircraft?

There are plenty of other candidates:

LR347 'T' of 235 Squadron - EDSG Upper, Sky Under, Dull Red code, night serials, Red Spinners, full Invasion stripes to wings and fuselage. (I have to say this is a personal favourite - a very prettyy scheme)

HR250 DZ-P 151 Squadron - MSG/DG Upper, MSG Under, Dull Red codes, Night Serials, MSG Spinner, Invasion stripes to underside of fuselage only, partially obscuring codes and serials

MM403 SB-V 464 Squadron RAAF, OG/DG Upper, MSG Under, oversprayed in Night, Sky Codes and fuselage band, Night serials, OG Spinners, Full Invasion Stripes on wings, and lower half of fuselage, partially obscuring Codes and serials

DKITH?

Tim

[Jazzy Jase]

Hi Tim,

I have the new RCAF Mosquito decals from Aviaology. These are the most well-documented decals I have ever seen and contain a lot of the history of each aircraft. The set includes decals for HJ719 (TH-U), HR147 (TH-Z) and NS850 (TH-M).

NS850, TH-M was used over the D-Day period but did not ever receive invasion stripes. Despite the lack of stripes, I would like to build this as part of the D-Day group build and I will seek the GB hosts permission. Failing that, HR147 (TH-Z) did receive the stripes and I will build that if NS850 is disallowed.

Jason