RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Hi guys

Information required for my forthcoming book on Screwball Beurling:

Code letters for the following:

403 (RCAF) Squadron Spitfire Vc 1941/42:

W3170
AD114
BL707

403 (RCAF) Squadron Spitfire IX 1943

MA241
MA356
MA573
MA817
MA840

412 (RCAF) Squadron Spitfire IX 1943/44

MJ303
MJ306
MJ383
MJ384

Thanks in advance

Cheers
Brian

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Not sure all your serial numbers match up with the correct Squadrons.

W3170 Vb 1635 EA M45 FF 1-5-41 Henley 9MU 5-5-41 74S 16-5-41 72S 27-7-41 Overturned on down-wind landing Martlesham Heath 5-4-42

AD114 Vb CBAF M45 45MU 31-8-41 485S 7-9-41 FACA 12-3-42 403S 'KH-W' 5-4-42 CB ops 2-6-42 MM mods RNAS Train Estab 30-6-42 Cat C at 1CRU 8-7-42 On loan for training Air Gunnery and Maintenance ratings-as GI?

BL707 Vb CBAF M45 6MU 31-1-42 403S 'KH-Y' 13-2-42 Missing from escort mission nr Le Touquet 2-6-42 FH68.45

MA241 IX CBAF M63 122S 11-5-43 222S 21-5-43 403S 24-8-43 405RSU 29-9-43 403S hit trees landing approach Kenley CE 20-12-43 FH182.25

MA356 VcT CBAF M50 6MU 2-6-43 215MU 11-6-43 SSLS627 26-6-43 Australia 2-8-43 RAAF as A58-235 Crashed nr Balranald NSW 11-44 rtp

MA573 IX CBAF M63 403S 26-6-43 Hit by flak on low level sweep nr Cambrai 13-11-43 FH172.45 P/O L C Rowe killed

MA817 IX CBAF M63 39MU 26-7-43 405ARF HAL 18-8-43 403S 4-9-43 FAAC 16-10-43 AST 501S 15-4-44 229S '9R-P' 29-5-44 Beachhead patrol Shot down by Fw190 north of Caen 23-6-44 F/Lt R H Small RAAF killed

MA840 IX CBAF M63 39MU 28-7-43 405ARF HAL 17-8-43 403S 14-9-43 VA 7-4-44 317S FACE 17-4-44 AST 58OTU 9-6-45 SOC 1-9-49 FFS 8-9-49

MJ303 LFIX CBAF M66 39MU 24-10-43 405ARF 8-11-43 412S 21-11-43 CAC ops 4-1-44 ros 405RSU 9-2-44 602S Escort B-26s to Creil attacked by Fw190s S of Neufchatel 10-5-44 P/O M W Frith killed

MJ306 LFIX CBAF M66 33MU 24-10-43 405ARF 11-11-43 412S Engine cut forcelanded nr Ypres 4-3-44 FH19 F/Lt A B W Ketterson killed

MJ383 LFIX CBAF M66 39MU 5-11-43 47MU 19-11-43 Fort George 4-12-43 Casablanca 22-12-43 FTR ops 27-9-44

MJ384 LFIX CBAF M66 39MU 30-10-43 405ARF 11-11-43 411S 21-11-43 421S Missing on beach patrol over Normandy 17-6-44 W/O L W Love killed

http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/production.htm

Regards,
Mike

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Hi Mike

Many thanks for the time and effort.

The serials were all extracted from the ORBs of the two squadrons in question (403 and 412).

I wonder?

Cheers
Brian

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Brian: I have a photo of a 412 Sqn scoreboard taken in Oct 43 showing Beurling's name (under Keefer) in A Flt. You are welcome to use it if you want. I also have some photos of 403 & 412 Sqn pilots if you are after anyone in particular

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Hi Chris

Many thanks, I would appreciate the loan of the photograph mentioned. Any shots of Beurling among your 403/412 collection?

You have my home address.
Cheers
Brian

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

No photos of him I am afraid

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Brian,

From Shores & Williams in Aces High:

MA573 was coded "KH-F" on 1 July 1944, flown by Hugh Godefroy. This may have been Godefroy "personal" Spit since most of claims were made on other Spits also coded "F."

Best wishes,

Tom

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Many thanks Tom

Every single one helps!

Cheers
Brian

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Are you sure about that date? Another source records MA573 as being lost on 13 November 1943, P/O L.C. Rowe KIA.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Bill & Brian,

My error, the date is 1 July 1943.

Tom

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Thanks Tom. I know how easy it is to make a typo like that, so I doubt everything in my files.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Brian,

MJ306 VZ-K 412sq. I have a photo of this one, however tiz with F/Lt ABW Ketterson who was killed on this a/c, March 4th

MJ383 JU-B 111sq (if you also seek a/c squadron history?)

MJ384 412sq A claim for this a/c - s/d was made by; Lt.Nitz of; 111/JG 2 at the time, date & place of loss for this a/c.

I have single and group photo's of 41 different 403sq pilots, none of Beurling though!

e-mail if you want the names, I have various further combat histories etc on the
individual a/c if you want as well?

Cheers,

Mervyn

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Hi Mervyn;

I would be interested in any information you have on 412 Squadron aircraft.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Hi Bill,

I am arfrid you have a rather wide reaching question there Bill, but by all means happy to help with specific aircraft, if I can.......?

Mervyn

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

A wide reaching question, because of wide reaching interests. To start, any serial numbers, with known dates of service and any known squadron codes would be nice. In general, any information (first dates, last dates, lossses, claims, etc.) that can be tied to specific serial numbers.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Gentlemen,

If I may revive this forum, I am looking for letter codes for the following aircraft of 412 RCAF Sqdn:

Spitfire Vb (1943):

AB215 (possibly AD215 - both appear in the squadron ORB; one of these is probably a typo)

Spitfire IXb (winter/spring 1943/44):

MJ300
MK253
MK853

I have several others, but these will do for now. All were flown by a F/Lt Crimmins of 412 Sqdn., shot down on 10-5-1944 during a fighter sweep. I am doing a bio on this pilot and would appreciate any leads for these aircraft.

Regards,

Mike L.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

I can confirm AB215 with 412 Squadron, but only briefly. 29 June to 4 July 1943. Serial AD215 was not used.

MJ300 was YO*P with 401 Squadron when lost on 2 October 1944, no info on 412 Squadron.

Sorry, nothing on the others.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Chris,

Would you happen to have any photos of Fl/Lt. J.A.C. Crimmins? (He served with 412 Sqdn RCAF from 2-8-1943 to 10-5-1944).

How about that scoreboard?? I wonder if he is on it aswell.

Thanks in advance,

Mike L.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

W3170 was with 403 Sqn since November 1941 and it was in 403 that it had the April 1942 accident

'MA356' is probably a misspelling for MH356

'MJ383' in squadron records could be a misspelling for MJ303 or MJ393.

The '421' here seems to be a misspelling for 412.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

His name is on the board and might have one if his nickname was Red

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

I don't know about the nickname, could you forward the photos to me? Will provide email address.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Do you have anything to add on the following Spitfires in 412 Sqdn service? How about photos? (I am looking for letter codes in particular);

AB215
MJ300
MK253
MK853

Thanks in advance.

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

From my database:

AB215
To No. 412 (F) Squadron, RCAF on 29 June 1943, left this unit by 4 July 1943.

MJ300
Used by No. 401 (F) Squadron, RCAF 1943/44, coded "YO*P". Lost over Holland, came down near Keent at 11:00 local time on 2 October 1944

MK253
nothing, sorry

MK853
again nothing

Re: RCAF Spit code letters - 403 and 412 Squadrons
 

Gentlemen,

For anybody interested I have obtained a full copy of a pilot's logbook from 412 Squadron, and will be cross-referencing this with the squadron's operational records to pair up as many serial #'s with letter codes as possible... the applicable time period is July 1943-May 1944. More to follow...

Cheers,

Skyhawk172