No 349 Squadron Tomahawk - any info?

[Dave Fleming]

This one always intruiged me when it appeared in the Trumpy kit - of all the RAF P-40B/C front line units, this one is probably the most obscure, and yet there it is in the best kit of the subject - not 112, with it's famous sharkmouth (probably because the AVG option is also there), not 2 or 26 or any of the other ones, but an obscure West African based squadron that probably never reached operational status.

Seemed a strange choice, and an interesting one as well - full Day Fighter scheme markings. Never seen a photo of that one, I wondered where Trumpeter got their info from. Then today, browing an old Aerospace Publishing book, I found a colour profile of the very aircraft. So we know where Trumpeter got the scheme from - but is there anything else out there?

Anyone know of any phtoos of 349 Squadron Tomahaks - even the squadron website doesn't have any!

Caveat - I'll probably build the kit as 2 Squadron anyway, but my curiosity is piqued!

Edited September 18, 2010 by Dave Fleming

[Ley]

From Fighter Squadrons of the RAF:

Formed 9.1.43

Tomahawks grounded 17.3.43

Disbanded ?.5.43

Tomahawks - AH775/GE-N

AH972

AH859

AH923

No photos. If memory serves the colour profile first appeared in RAF Flying Review in the late-60s

[stevehnz]

According to RAFweb HERE it was a Belgian Squadron formed in Ikeja (Lagos) Nigeria in late 1942 for duties in the Belgian Congo. This never happened & it went onto ferrying duties before being disbanded & reconstitued back in the UK in June 1943. No profile for the Tomahawks on Rafweb unfortunately. I found also on Wings Palette HERE,scroll down a bit, there are two profiles of this, one from Gunstons "Combat Aircraft of WWII" & one from Easymodel, Easymodel are preassembled & finished Hobbyboss Quick assemble kits AFAIK with all the work done as seen HERE

Steve.

Edited September 19, 2010 by stevehnz

[Marcel]

I know this is a quite old topic but with the new Airfix Tomahawk I asked some Belgian people if they have any info. Mr. Andre Bar was very kind and he sent me probably the one and only photo of a 349 Sq. Tomahawk in service:

And he wrote:

"Despite extensive research we could not determine with certainty the colours of the camouflage of Tomahawks at this time.

We only have the certainty that they do not wore the letters idendifying the Squadron; they wore only the serial number.

Personally, I think they wore a grey-green camouflage more suited for the jungle."

This Kittyhawk photo is also from Mr. Bar:

[Dave Fleming]

Thanks Marcel, it may be an old topic but I'm still interested!!

The Tomahawk photo is interesting - the dark spinner and general tone suggests that it might be in Green/Earth as delivered.

Looks like the Trumpeter scheme is fictional, yet you do wonder where the profile painter got his information

The Kitthawk looks like a P-40F in French markings

Edited December 3, 2011 by Dave Fleming

[Nick Millman]

Thanks Marcel, it may be an old topic but I'm still interested!!

The Tomahawk photo is interesting - the dark spinner and general tone suggests that it might be in Green/Earth as delivered.

Looks like the Trumpeter scheme is fictional, yet you do wonder where the profile painter got his information

The Kitthawk looks like a P-40F in French markings

The profile might have originated from the John Weal (?) profile of AH972 that originated in Air Enthusiast magazine (and/or RAF Flying Review) and has re-appeared variously ever since as the Trumpeter kit has the same serial and sky blue looking fuselage band, spinner and codes. AH972 was delivered between December 1940 and October 1941, serving with the School of Army Cooperation and 41 Operational Training Unit before 349 Sqn so its ultimate paint scheme must be conjectural.

But as for grey/green being more suited for the jungle that was the Day Fighter Scheme for the European theatre whilst brown/green (TLS) was the recognised overseas scheme and arguably a better African scheme.

Edited December 3, 2011 by Nick Millman

[Marcel]

The profile might have originated from the John Weal (?) profile of AH972 that originated in Air Enthusiast magazine (and/or RAF Flying Review) and has re-appeared variously ever since as the Trumpeter kit has the same serial and sky blue looking fuselage band, spinner and codes. AH972 was delivered between December 1940 and October 1941, serving with the School of Army Cooperation and 41 Operational Training Unit before 349 Sqn so its ultimate paint scheme must be conjectural.

But as for grey/green being more suited for the jungle that was the Day Fighter Scheme for the European theatre whilst brown/green (TLS) was the recognised overseas scheme and arguably a better African scheme.

Hi Nick,

well there is a C roundel under the wing - wouldn’t an A be used with the DG/DE scheme? Well just asking because I am really confused.

[Dave Fleming]

Hi Nick,

well there is a C roundel under the wing - wouldn’t an A be used with the DG/DE scheme? Well just asking because I am really confused.

No, the roundels don't relate to the colour scheme at all, just the date of use - the Day Fighter (Grey/Green) Scheme was introduced to European fighters in August 1941, the C Roundel in July 1942.

As The Tomahawks had been in service in the UK, they could still be in Temperate (Green/Earth) or DFS scheme. The picture suggests to me that aircraft is still in the temperate scheme as it lacks the Sky spinner and wing leading edge yellow stripes common to the DFS

[Marcel]

No, the roundels don't relate to the colour scheme at all, just the date of use - the Day Fighter (Grey/Green) Scheme was introduced to European fighters in August 1941, the C Roundel in July 1942.

As The Tomahawks had been in service in the UK, they could still be in Temperate (Green/Earth) or DFS scheme. The picture suggests to me that aircraft is still in the temperate scheme as it lacks the Sky spinner and wing leading edge yellow stripes common to the DFS

So you think that I should finish my model in the Temperate scheme with the "newer" roundels?