Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Gentlemen,

A photo of Beaufighter VIc JL725 appears in "Beaufighter at War" and "Beaufighter Squadrons in Focus" with similar captions - I cite the one from the second book: "JL725 T-Tommy' crash landed after combat with two Me109s. The pilot was Flying Officer H J Thomas."
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2ima...7629867717873/
The aircraft indeed was marked with 'T' sometime during the period between May to December 1943, as proven by another photo for which I don't have an exact date.

Do we know anything more about the aforementioned accident? I know that JL725 belonged to a Coastal Command unit at that time, but which one?

Thank you for information.

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

It appears that 236 Sqn didn't use squadron codes.
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/236_wwII.html

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Beaufighter VIC JL725 flew with No.235 Sqn and No.132 OTU.
235 Sqn was coded LA: Blenheim IV L9324 LA-P, Beaufighter I R2269 LA-A.
236 Sqn was coded FA: Blenheim I L6875 FA-G, IV T7942 FA-J; Beaufighter I T4724 FA-A, then ND: Blenheim IV V5432 ND-A; Beaufighter I T4827 ND-N, VI X8060 ND-E; without code 1943-44: Beaufighter VI JL824 Y, X NE193 H; coded MB 1944-45: Beaufighter X NV171 MB-V.
Coastal Command's Sqns discontinued use of codes (mid 1943), used numbered codes for some time (at the same base: lowest numbered sqn-1, next-2. and so on) and full codes again 1944-45.

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Thank you for the answers.
May I ask for the source of your info Zoran?
235 Sqn would fit, as the photo I have was most likely taken at Leuchars (there's a 333 Sqn Mosquito in the foreground, and some Hampdens in far background - these may belong to 455 Sqn RAAF) where they have been based from January to August 1943.
JL725 is marked with T (presumably red) only.

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Hello,

Re: 235/'T'.

1/.

No.235 Sqn ORB (F.54O - Summary of Events) July 1943 - AIR 27/1444/12 (Image 1 of 3).

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/D8395902

SUMBURGH - 4/7/43

No cloud. Vis. unlimited. R, T & O with fighter escort of 3 A/C of 404 Sqdn, carried out shipping search off Norwegian coast. Sighted convoy of 2 M.V.'s and 3 armed trawlers off Bremane ? attacked no results seen as formation attacked by 2 Me 109's. T & C/G [sic] sustained slight damage, and R was last seen diving towards land with smoke pouring out and was not observed again.

2/.

No.235 Sqn ORB (F.541 - Detail of Work Carried Out) July 1943 - AIR 27/1444/13 (Images 2 & 3 of 8).

http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/D8395903

SUMBURGH. 4/7/43.

A/C. T

F/O Thomas, H. J.
Sgt Price, T. C.

Rover Patrol.

Up: 17.05 Down: 2125

S/O in company with R & O 235 Sqdn, escorted by SUM/4/7, K, N & P/404 Sqdn. Made landfall at STOCKHOLM Light. Coastal batteries opening up with intense heavy & light flak. At 19.05 sighted 2 vessels of 1?00 tons escorted by 3 armed trawlers, also ????? VM/4/5000 tons. Aircraft T delivered an attack with 8 projectiles all of which overshot the target by 20 yds (cont, image No.3) ... while circling posn (position) to take photographs T was attacked by ME 109 scoring hits on starboard wing, HYDRAULICS shot away, camera and IFF dials hit & hole in inner petrol tank & observer slightly wounded in one leg. A/C T replied with rear gun & enemy A/C broke off & attempted an attack on another Beaufighter. T set Co due West into the sun.

NB. Thomas and Price back in action, 10/7/43"E" Rover Patrol (Image 4 of 8).

In both instances, hit "Preview an image of this record".

The following "CLAIM" is known:

Jafu Norwegen.

04.07.43 Uffz Robert Merkl - 10./JG 5 - Beaufighter - 06007/6483: 10 m. 19:28 - Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.-

The Loss:

04.07.43
404 (RCAF) Sqn
Beaufighter XI JM133

Presumed shot down by Bf 109s off Kristiansand.

J/13741 F/O (Pilot) James Rudolph RUMBEL RCAF(USA) - Missing
J/18455 P/O (Nav.) Joseph Moise Gaston LALONDE RCAF - Missing

Both commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Col

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

I forgot to say that data for 235 & 236 Sqns is from Lake's Flying Units of the RAF, more at
https://books.google.hr/books/about/...AJ&redir_esc=y

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Excellent, thank you very much!

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

According to the 541, Rumbel and Lalonde were in JM166, 2+K, a Beaufighter XIC.

Stephen

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Hello,

1/. Beaufighter XI JM133 - 404 - Missing, presumed shot down by Bf 109s off Kristiansand 4.7.43

2/. Beaufighter XI JM166 - 404/143/9 OTU/235/9 OTU - Struck off Charge 4.12.44.

See:
Royal Air Force Aircraft JA100 - JZ999
Halley,James J.
Tonbridge:Air-Britain (Historians),1990
p.49

Col.

Re: Beaufighter VIc JL725 unit affiliation in 1943
 

Ah, good to know there is typo as JM133 is listed as being 'P'.