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Marcel Hogenhuis 27th March 2026 18:46

PRU Royal Air Force
 
Hello

Looking through the ORB's of PRU units and its successors 540, 541 and 542 Squadrons, the coverage of all recon missions is far from complete it seems.

The reason for asking that I want to list the photo recon missions to 'my' airfield Venlo. For most aerial photographs I have the mission number, but it would be nice to have the pilot/plane involved too :)

Any suggestions are much appreciated ! Best regards from Venlo

Marcel

Jaap Woortman 27th March 2026 20:59

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Marcel,

Try the Special Collection of the University of Wageningen.

Jaap

Marcel Hogenhuis 28th March 2026 11:05

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Hello Jaap,

Thank you ! I know they have lots of aerial recon photo's but that they also know the details of the pilot/plane involved is new to me. In several cases I have the mission number read on the photo's but can't find the mission details.

Warm greetings from Venlo, Marcel

Andy Fletcher 28th March 2026 12:38

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Hi Marcel,

If you have particular sortie references drop me an e-mail and I will try and find the extra details you require.

von_shagmeister[at]yahoo.co.uk

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

Marcel Hogenhuis 29th March 2026 12:52

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Hello Andy,

Thank you very much for your kind offer, please don't spend too much of your time but I have these early recon missions to Venlo just because I have a photograph of it:

8th June 1940 : RAF (FAA, sortie 036) ?
15th March 1941 : 3 PRU, sortie B/85
10th April 1941 : PRU sortie H/832, photo negative nrs. 926, 927
2nd Sept.1941 : PRU sortie T/512, 913-914-915

The ORB's of 540, 541 and 542 all start in October 1942, and the PRU ORB's seem to be incomplete so an(d)y additional info is much appreciated !

Have a nice sunday ! Best regards, Marcel

Laurent Rizzotti 29th March 2026 13:25

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Just a quick reply, but have you checked the appendices files to ORB ? Sometimes they will contain sortie reports.

Marcel Hogenhuis 29th March 2026 14:12

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Hello Laurent,

Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I freely admit that I didn't check these because I assumed that the Appendices cover the same time frame as the ORB's.

As I have downloaded the monthly amount of free ORB-downloads very recently, I must wait for 25-30 days before I will be able to check the Appendices too :)

Have a nice sunday! Marcel

Andy Fletcher 30th March 2026 10:06

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis (Post 350188)

8th June 1940 : FAA/036 [212 Sqn; F/O A.L. Taylor; Spitfire N3116]
15th March 1941 : 3 PRU, sortie B/85 [F/L N.H.E. Messervy; Spitfire X4385]
10th April 1941 : PRU sortie H/832, photo negative nrs. 926, 927 [F/O G.E. Hughes; Spitfire X4335]
2nd Sept.1941 : PRU sortie T/512, 913-914-915 [F/O R.V. Whitehead; Spitfire X4503]

Morning Marcel,

Additional details in bold above. If you have any further PRU related queries I'm happy to try and help.

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

Marcel Hogenhuis 30th March 2026 10:17

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Woow Andy,

This is exactly what I am looking for, really great and many thanks !
I will check my own findings to see whether I miss any other recon missions. If so, I might ask you again but let me look first.

(love to know one time where you have found your most helpful information :D)

A very grateful greeting from Venlo

Marcel

Andy Fletcher 30th March 2026 10:23

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis (Post 350206)

(love to know one time where you have found your most helpful information :D)

From more years than I care to mention researching RAF photo recce ops and aircrew.

Marcel Hogenhuis 30th March 2026 12:27

Re: PRU Royal Air Force
 
Well Andy,

Those years were very well spent then :) Keep on the good work !

Warm greetings, Marcel


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