Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Most sources I can find indicate that Mosquito HR573 was lost in Apr45.
For example,

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH9...odn%20list.txt
(which BTW seems to be a copy of the info in the Air Britain serials books)
says "Lost 4.4.45 NFD"


However, Jeff Jefford's opus "The Flying Camels" notes this aircraft, coded OB-K, as being involved in the sqn's last operational mission of World War II, on 12 May 45 (Fig 11.3, page 301). In the list of serials at the end of the book (page 506) it says the aircraft served with the sqn "until 20 Jul 45 at least"


Can anyone please clarify the situation?

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

HR574 was lost on the 14-4-45.
Is it not possible that at some point the paperwork was wrong ?
And that the record became an extra loss as 4-4-45 - HR573 ?
1945 45 Sqn "Mosquito losses"
3-1-45 - HR515
12-1-45 - HR492
15-1-45 - HR402
17-2-45 - HR390
28-2-45 - HR457
26-3-45 - HR527
14-4-45 - HR574
13-6-45 - HR372
17-6-45 - HR309
12-10-45 - RF697

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Thanks for the suggestion, which I guess is possible.
HR574 is also a slight enigma. In "Flying Camels", it is reported as arriving 17/1/45, but anotated "not accepted by squadron".
In the main text, there is no reference at all to a loss on 14/4/45 either - all others you mention are covered with crew details etc.

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Alex

Out of curiosity where is it stated that HR574 was lost on the 14th and not on the 4th?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=HR574

The ORB gives -
Pilot F/Lt. Scott J/5832 was last seen still in chute Barnes hanging from a tree, he had been wounded in an arm prior to bailing and was reported as dead by natives later. The surviving man was F/O Fisher.
A/c in Sqn letter was "K". .

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Thanks Alex

Anyone who has read the actual record card?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Interesting that the link shows Flt Lt Scott as being from 47 Sqn.

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Hi Andy,

Well spotted. I didn't notice that the heading shows 45 Sqn but the table beneath has 47 Sqn details .
The National Archive links only shows up the 47 Sqn orb ?

Alex

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Hi Andy,
Take a look here -

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...134#post155134

Hope this explains the 45/47 error.

Alex

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

All

Sorry about my mistake.
I never really caught on we suddenly started to discuss HR574 instead of the interesting HR573

If one search for it at the RAF Command site, nothing turns up.
So my question should really have been has anyone seen the record card for HR573!

With regard to HR574, on April 14th, both 45 and 47 Sq shared the same base, Kumbhirgram. They operated the same type of aircraft, Mosquito Mk VI.
So I don't understand what Jagan means by claiming that 45 Sq was the only one, quote "45 Sqn (only one in SEAC operating mosquitos in that range)" unquote. In what way did 45 Sq Mosquitos differ from those used by 47 Sq?
To me, with two units using the same base and sharing the same type of aircraft, there is nothing strange if you also "loan" both aircraft and personal on certain missions. So what proof is there that Scott/Fisher was not on loan from 47 Sq when shot down? Reading Shores Air War for Burma, he lists both of them as 47 Sq personal and even claiming the two aircraft which took part was from 47 Sq! Perhaps it was the other way around? 47 Sq borrows a Mosquito from 45 Sq while the crew actually was from 47 Sq?

What does each ORB state? What does each crew member's file state?

I don't know, but in my mind it takes a bit more research to get to the bottom of the 45/47 Sq controversy in this particular case.
If what is listed in "mossie.org" is all there is, it certainly does not solve the problem either.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Gents,
Thanks for the input. To summarize:

HR573 - often said to have been lost 4 Apr 45, but "Flying Camels" claims it was still in use as late as Jul45
HR574: I have just downloaded the 47 Sqn ORB for Apr 45. Now things get a little strange. Interspersed with the April pages are pages for May. The sortie we are talking about was actually on 14 May 45 according to the ORB! It was aircraft K, with the circumstances as described before (F/L Scott killed, F/O Fisher returned). I am beginning to believe that this loss had nothing at all to do with 45 Sqn, which explains its absence from "Flying Camels". However, I cannot explain why Flt Lt Scott's death is listed as 14 Apr 45 everywhere (CWGC etc)

There is a co-incidence of course. HR573 was OB-K with 45 Sqn....

Andy

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Even further complications then Andy

I also think you need to download 45 Sq as well.
These two units must have worked hand in hand while based at the same place.

Venturing a pure guess here (I have my own opinions with regard to the ORB), the May dates are wrong and it should actually read April instead?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Stig,
I have just done that.
There is absolutely no mention of any 45 Sqn loss on 14 April. They launched 5 aircraft, all of which returned safely.
I also checked 14 May, the only loss that day was the squadrons Harvard (FE614) and its crew.
Andy

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

More and more strange Andy

Checking Shores book again, he only states 45Sq flew missions on May 11 and 12th and for the rest of the month stood down preparing for their move into Cholovaram.

No mentioning of 47Sq at all on May 14th

I believe HR574 was a 45Sq aircraft which was loaned by 47Sq (off the records) on April 14th and was lost with Scott/Fisher on that same date.
I have no explanation why 47Sq ORB says it was in May.

It also seems all other sources I have (second hand), have at least interpreted the action/loss took place in April and not in May. At least Shores must have read the same papers you have done right now.
I don't have any other book/reference relating to the British efforts in Burma during this period, so I cannot check anything else.

Quite a mystery....:confused:

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Stig has kindly pointed out that if you put all the mission references in the ORB in numerical order, then 14 April would be the correct date for the mission on which Scott and Fisher went down - I should have spotted that...
So it seems that the typist inserted the wrong month on one of the pages.

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

As everyone figured out , the 14 May reference is very likely a typo by the compiling officer in 47 Sqdn

The 14 April date is confirmed via ancestry for Scott's files.
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer...549_0698-00055
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer...549_0698-00030

Stig error on my part - i somehow missed 47 Sqn in some of my notes.

Re: Mosquito HR573 45 Sqn
 

Thank you Jagan