Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Hi, I believe the Battle to be a BELGIUM machine coded T.60
regards

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

....probably Spitfire P9339 ZD-J of Sgt. L.J.White - loss on morning 1.6.1940 near Koksijde in combat with Bf 110 of I./ZG 1 and Bf 109 of I./JG 26

Faenor

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

The Air Britain book "Gifts of War" records "West Godavari" as a presentation name to be applied to an aircraft of 234 (Madras Presidency) Sqn using codes 'AZ' but the serial is unknown. It would seem most likely that the code letters are either 'QV' for 19 Sqn or, depending on the date of the incident, 'QJ' of 616Sqn.

I notice that the canopy appears to have the large bulge on the side used on aircraft carrying out "Jim Crow" patrols.

Steve

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Steve

Photo here https://www.ebay.de/itm/x40-Holland-...YAAOSwoddabda7 clearly shows the code is QV, that is 19 Sq and not QJ.

Faenor

Photo here https://www.ebay.de/itm/r40-Holland-....c100013.m1986 give us an ID P8439

According to Jim Halley P8439 was initially used by 234Sq (which fits what Gifts of War says). Then Halley says it went to 91Sq, but since Frank states P8439 was lost with 19Sq on 28.8.1941 (date fits with what the photo says), I think there is a misprint in Halley's (Air Britain's) booklet and 91Sq is in fact 19Sq.

Without being 100% sure of course, I would say we are looking at P8439 QV-X shot down by AA-fire 28.8.1941 and which landed on a Dutch Beach.

Cheers
Stig

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Thanks to all who share information.Have a nice day Faenor

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

"Spitfire - the History" Morgan and Shacklady also records 234 and 91Sqn for P8439 no mention of 19Sqn. "Fighter Command Losses" records that P8439 was allotted to 19Sqn when it was lost. The photo in the first ebay link in Stig's post shows more clearly that the aircraft is definitely a "long range" Spitfire with the fixed overload tank under the port wing.
I am not an expert in these matters but personally I think the 91Sqn remains a possibility 91Sqn was formed from 421Flt which was established for Jim Crow work. Needs someone to check ORBs.
Steve

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Steve

The photo also very clearly shows a 19Sq code. 91Sq never used QV.

Cheers
Stig

Re: eBay: Allied intrest
 

Stig

There is a published history of 19Sqn "Fighter Squadron" by Derek Palmer. This records that 234Sqn handed over their long range Spitfires to 19Sqn on 21 August 1941 just a week before this incident so it does seem that the record showing 91Sqn is incorrect.

Steve

Re: eBay: Allied intrest