Re: SFTS 1940
 

Thanks Peter, that has settled that matter re L1703. Some of the Accident Cards on microfilm are very poor quality photographs and I noted with another that the occasional one has changed serial details (which can sometimes only be seen from a photocopy of the AHB original).

Mark

Re: SFTS 1940
 

Hello Brian

27 MU
a. I think the only way you will hopefully get further information on this incident, is in the No. 27 MU Shawbury ORB in AIR 29/989.

Wellington Attack by C.F.I. of No. 11 S.F.T.S.
b. Further to Alan's very detailed response regarding the Bomber Command Wellington shot down by the C.F.I., of No. 11 S.F.T.S., there is a piece about this on a Minute Sheet (numbered 13) dated 19.11.40 in AIR 20/4289 Rules for Opening Fire by Friendly Fighters at Night.

Wing Commander T. N. McEvoy F.O.1. states in paragraphs (quoted) of his Minute Note to the D.H.O. (Director of Home Operations), on 19.11.40:-

D.H.O.
"We have now received the report for which you asked on the incident in which a Bomber Command Wellington was shot down by the C.F.I. of No. 11 S.F.T.S."

"2. It is a flagrant case of ignorance of Recognition Instructions - an ignorance which is apparently shared by the C.O. of the S.F.T.S. and is not remarked upon by H.Q., Flying Training Command."

"3. The error lies in supposing that aircraft are able to "challenge" other aircraft and to take hostile action if no reply is made to their "challenge". It was this mistake which contributed to the shooting down of the two Hampdens in the Firth of Forth on the 21st December last year, and such mistakes will continue to happen until pilots outside Fighter Command realise their responsibilities."

"4. Since the ignorance seems so general we must, I think, send out a clearly worded letter on the subject to follow the letter by D.C.A.S. which has been sent giving pilots outside Fighter Command authority in certain circumstances to engage enemy aircraft."

"6. Some kind of disciplinary action should be taken against S/Ldr. Maxwell and G/Capt. Lale. Since D.C.A.S's letter was not written till after the accident, such action should probably be limited to admonition but we cannot let such irresponsibility get away with it completely, particularly when the results might have been serious."

D. F. Stevenson responds and addresses the DCAS:-

"DCAS"
"This is a pretty poor show. If you agree I would ask you to approve FO1's draft min to A.M.P. & the letter to the Command.
D.F. Stevenson DHO 26/11"

Re: SFTS 1940
 

I would like to thank the contributors to this thread dating from 2012. In June this year, I turned up two threads while looking for the meaning of the 'S' in SFTS. What caught my eye on this particular thread was Observer1940's post about the shooting down of Whitley N1411 on 5 August 1940, 75 years ago today.

I already knew about the incident, for I had seen the entry in the ORB Appendices for No. 10 OTU at the National Archive, quoted above in post #6. My interest was in the Whitley's pilot, F/O A.J. Oettle, for I am writing a history of the early operations carried out by 419/1419 Flight and 138 Squadron. In September 1940 Jack Oettle joined No. 419 Flight, created specifically to insert agents into Nazi-occupied Europe by air, and to recover a few by Lysander. Jack Oettle carried out many of the early agent-dropping operations in 1940-41 before dying in a Whitley crash in October 1941.

Observer1940's post referred to the RAF Court of Inquiry (which I didn't know had survived - many have not), and it also mentioned the Hurricane's registration, R4118. This number leapt out at me, for it is Peter Vacher's immaculately-restored Hurricane, appearing at air displays around the country and currently up for sale. I immediately headed to the National Archives for verification before contacting Peter. He suggested I wrote an article, which has just been published. I would therefore like to thank 'Mark' (aka Observer1940) for his earlier research.

Nick Livingstone