Skua rescue in Norway
 

Here is a few pictures of last night rescue of a Blackburn Skua in Orkdalsfjord

cheers flyvrak

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Thanks for posting. Very interesting that one of the Skua wrecks is lifted. Which aircraft individual??

Cheers
Goran

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Not yet

Serials quoted so far for this are L2899 or L2986

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Cheers Paul!
Goran

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

To my knowledge it is L2896. Unconfirmed source said it was found on the back of the pilot seat today. Also letter A found on tail fin.

cheers Kjell

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hello,

Re serial number
Those given here do not give up very much in way of info.

L2899
Del 803 Sqn DL dett Donibristle 13.2.39 (DLT Courageous) - 3.39; PD 4.9.41.

L2986
Del D Flt 2 AACU Eastchurch 6.6.39; D Flt 2 AACU to Gosport 4.9.39; D Flt 2 AACU Donibristle 13.4.40; FAA Gosport15.6.40; Tested Lee SS after mod 13.7.40.

L2896
TOC 803 Sqn Worthy Down 2.39 - 8.39; West Freugh (806 Sqn?) 4.40; To SAL for repair 6.6.40; Donibristle 10.1.41; 772 Sqn Machrihanish 1.43.

Ref: FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 (Air Brit)
So perhaps pilots seat was at sometime earlier changed from L2896 to another a/c ?


Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hi again,
I have scanned through the Air Brit book perviously noted and also "Fledgling Eagles" .
I found -
7th May 1940
Lt. G.S. Russell with LA. H. Pickering crashed into the sea at Ofotfjord Russell lost a fingertip, both were rescued aircraft said to have been "A8G" serial number L2918.
But 14th May 1940, out of fuel, Lt. T.E. Gray with LA. A.G. Clayton force landed at Andoya in "A8S" serial number L2918.
8th May 1940
S/Lt P.N. Charlton with NA. F.Culliford ditched in Ofotfjord both rescued, But also that they force landed Tovik, Skanland (?)
Their a/c is said to have been "A8M" serial number L2916.
Also on the 14th May 1940 Lt. W.P.Lucy with Lt. M.C.E.Hanson, DSC in "A8H" serial number L2925 went into the sea off Tranoy Light Ofort Fjord both MIA.
There were a lot more lost but I think in other parts of Norway, including "A7L" serial L2931 of Lt(A) W.C.A.Church and SubLt (A) D.G.Willis both killed on the 27th April 1940 when their a/c burst into flames and losing its engine dived into the sea.

I hope that this info helps.
Another Anniversary gone by almost unmentioned.
Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Unless the history of L2986 has become swapped with L2896 - Not the first time this has happended." but again I note BOTH have a "history" after April 1940

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hello all.
Just returned from Trondheim after dismantling and preparing the Skua for the journey to Bodo.
We found the serialnumber L2896 written on the fueltank in the nose, below the cockpit floor and on the pilot seat. In addition, painted on the usual place on the fuselage, allthough the last digit was partly missing due to extensive damage to the tail. L289 is clear and easy to read. The last digit, the '6', is damaged and difficult to read but it looks like the '9' turned up-side down. This in mind, and the fact that we found it written on to seperate items, is good enough for me. When we start preserving all the details and parts in Bodo next week, we will of course have a keen eye for the serialnumber.

Regards
Bengt

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Thanks for the update, Bengt. This indeed sounds like it is L2896. Can you confirm the "A" on the tailfin?

Kjetil Aakra

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Yes. An 'A'. Painted on the fin in a light green colour with a black outline. Could this green colour mean 'Green Flight' within the squadron?

Bengt

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Thanks again.

Hm, the green colour is indeed unusual! I am tempted to make a preliminary profile, but I guess so are you!!

Is the pilot still belived to be Casson (?) or whatever his name was? If so, could the green colour of the letter be related to him being a Squad leader or something?

Kjetil

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Yes.Thats correct. He was the squadron CO. He and his navigator, Lt. Fanshawe, were taken Pow's.

Bengt

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hi,
Good news all round as crew were POW.
Air Brit FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 has them in Skua L2991. (?)
FTR Ark Royal in "A7A", shot down after DB attack on SCHARNHORST at Trondheim, and crashed at Langvika, Stjornfjord, Fosen, Cat W, 13.6.40.

All the best
Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hi
I believe it was Skua 6A: L2995 which ditched at Stallvika in Stjørnfjord. Acting Major Richard Thomas Partridge were rescued from sea,Lieutenant Robert Southey Bostock(KIA)
Regarding L2896:
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/orkdalsfjord.html

regards Kjell

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hello Kjell,

What makes you change your mind on L2896 to L2995 please ?

Have remains been found in the wreckage ?

Crews of the Eight a/c lost were -
800 Squadron
Bostock - killed - L2995
Crawford - killed - L3028
Cunningham - POW - L3000
Finch-Noyes - Killed - L3000
Gallagher - killed - L3028
Martin - POW - L3047
Partridge - POW - L2995
Tremeer - Missing - L3047
803 Squadron
Bartlett - POW - L2955
Casson - POW - L2991
Fanshawe - POW - L2991
Filmer - POW - L2963
Harris - killed - L2992
McKee - POW - L2963
Richards - POW - L2955
Stevenson - POW/DoW 31/5/41 - L2992

Names linked to serial numbers in FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 (Air Brit).


Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hello Alex
Sorry about this confusion. No, I haven't changed my mind. It was L2896 which was raised from the Orkdalsfjord last Tuesday.

I do not know if any remains were found in L2995 which ditched in Stjørnfjord on the same date as L2896

regards Kjell

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

hello Kjell,

Many thanks for your reply.
It is now clear that
Casson and Fanshawe were in Skua L2896 and not in Skua L2991 as previously recorded in the Air Brit book.

May those still recorded as Missing rest in peace.

Thanks for your good work .
Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Here's my personal interpretation of Skua L2896, based on photographs and information from Bengt.

Quite an unusual cololur scheme compared to what we would expect from official documentation and previous knowledge, I think. And the green letter is highly unexpected.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/%3Ca%2...%22%3E%3C/a%3Ehttp://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...Skua_L2896.jpg

Regards,

Kjetil Aakra

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hey Kjetil,

its a beautiful profile but you got the serial wrong :)

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Thanks, yes I noted after I made it but posted it anyway. Made it in a hurry yesterday and will fix it later tonight.

At least I am not the first to have missed the serial on this one! :-)

Regards,

Kjetil

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hi.
Nice profile, Kjetil. Almost spot on! Regarding my own question about the green 'A' indicating Green-Flight, it looks like thats the case. Have seen copy of the squadron diary, and Green-Flight included Skuas 'A', 'B' and 'C'.

Bengt

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hello gents.

Today, there are no longer any doubts about the serial number on the Skua.
L2896 was found painted on the fuselage.

Bengt

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Thank you Bengt
Hope that it can be saved and maybe rebuilt for static display- not displayed as a wreck laid out on an imitation seabed.
By the way I have seen some time ago on ebay I think a photo of a captured Skua pilot.
Alex

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Hi Alex,
It was probably this image you saw which was up at eBay.de together with some other photos from the same event.

[links deleted upon request of owner of pictures]

Best regards,
Goran

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

Highly interesting photos, Göran. These I missed when they were on ebay, thanks for posting.

It actually seems L2963 also had these dark blue undersides. Interesting to see how the demarcation line was, think I need to modify the profile of L2896 a little!

Kjetil Aakra

Re: Skua rescue in Norway
 

You're welcome Kjetil! Glad if they can be of help.The backside text tells that the crash photos also are from shot down Skuas but does not mention the exact location. All photos have backside text and date but I did not post them here.
Br
Göran