Originally Posted by Martin Gleeson (Post 283052)

Faenor,

Those two Hurricane photos are not of P2573 from 607 Squadron. Many photos of P2573 show it with the engine and front of the aircraft very badly burnt. Some show the individual letter 'K' but there was no unit code on it. Also a fin flash can be seen and the buildings are different.

Based on the partial serial that is visible I suggest it could be one of the following;
P2833 CFF from 17 May 1940
P2873 CFF from 18 May 1940
P2973 Tangmere from 6 June 1940
P3533 CFF from 17 May 1940
All of these were almost certainly replacement aircraft ferried over to France. The dates given as being taken on charge are somewhat suspect in all cases, they could have reached France days earlier or later.
Just because the vendor says it is located in Belgium is not enough proof for me. Most RAF aircraft had a fin flash applied by 10 May 1940 but not every one. If this was a Belgian aircraft it should have a large white two-digit number on the tail.

It would be great if someone can reveal its identity.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Originally Posted by edwest2 (Post 283105)

https://www.ebay.de/itm/B326-Fotos-W...MAAOSw675eTCuw
https://www.ebay.de/itm/B325-Fotos-W...0AAOSwWI1eTCs4
https://www.ebay.de/itm/B324-Fotos-W...UAAOSwU7JeTCrA

Originally Posted by Martin Gleeson (Post 269190)

Harrow photos, Posts 546 and 550.
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Faenor and Paul,
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Paul, this is a new image to me but definitely the same aircraft as seen in other EBay photos.
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As you state there is no mention of this loss in the 271 Squadron ORB. The last record of it in the Form 541 part of the ORB is on 10 June 1940 when it was flown back late that day to England from le Mans in France. K6996 is not recorded again in the F.541 for the rest of June or all of July 1940.
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Apparently the last RAF aircraft left France on June 18th and Jersey on June 20th. If the date of 20 June 1940 is correct then it is possible the Harrow photos were taken at St. Helier airfield in Jersey. The Struck Off Charge date for K6996 is 20 June 1940, so it could have been lost on this date or earlier.
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Faenor, the Hurricane in the photo you found is interesting. 501 Squadron left Jersey on June 20th. While their ORB does not mention the Harrow or any of their Hurricanes left behind it seems they did leave at least one. Peter Cornwell in his 'THE BATTLE OF FRANCE, THEN AND NOW' records they abandoned Hurricane P3347 at St. Helier and possibly others. As the new photo shows both aircraft burnt out this could have been carried out by the British just before evacuation.
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Air-Britain in 'THE K FILE' and 'AEROMILITARIA', autumn 2006 issue has the same service history and fate based on the Form 78 aircraft history card in both works. I strongly caution against their use of the letter 'N' for this Harrow however. It appears to be based on a photo of a Harrow 'N' on page 111 of the 'AEROMILITARIA' issue and which they state to be K6996.
I cannot read the serial in the photo but it seems to be a photo taken after 1940. There appears to be a Hawker Typhoon with a Sky fuselage band in the background. The Harrow also has the name 'Sparrow' on the nose, which again I believe was used post-1940. Maybe someone has a better copy of this photo ? Should it actually show K6996 then of course we are looking for a new serial for the burnt Harrow photos !
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I cannot find an AIR 81 casualty file for this Harrow loss, indicating there were no personnel casualties. No Form 1180 accident card either.
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I hope we can sort this little mystery out.
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Regards,
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Martin Gleeson.