Request: Wapiti service records
 

Hello all

Can some kind soul with the relevant Air Britain serial books please let me have any info available in them for the following Wapitis? My other half's cousin has photos of them in India taken by his Uncle some time in the 1930s, and we're trying to track down the Squadron they belonged to.

J9399
J9481
J9720
J9721
K1291
K2282

Many thanks.

Regards

Simon

Re: Request: Wapiti service records
 

Hello Simon,
J9399
ToC PD Ascot 4.1.29;To Royal Albert Docks 28.1.29 for shipment in SS Dumana; AD Drigh Rd; 39 Sqdn .29; AD Drigh Rd 14.10.31 - 4.32; 31 Sqdn 6.34;Crashed 1.6.35; AD Drigh Rd; SoC 31.12.35.
J9481
PD Ascot 20.3.29; To Royal Albert Docks 22.4.29 for shipment in SS Hatimura; AD Drigh Rd 3.5.29; 39 Sqdn (9) 7.30; Crashed on landing miramshah 1.9.30; Repaired; 27 Sqdn (G) .31; AD Drigh Rd22.3.32; 28 Sqdn (G) 11.33 - 1.34; 31 Sqdn (G) Overshot in bad weather struck bund and overturned Fort Sandeman 11.4.36; Repaired; 31 Sqdn 3.37; Tyre burst after landing swung u/c collapsed Wana 9.5.39 WoC.
J9720
PD Sealand 24.2.30; AD Drigh Rd 11.4.30; 1 (Indian) Gp 6.30; 31 Sqdn .31; 20 Sqdn 3.31 - 7.32; 31 Sqdn 4.34 - 7.34; 5 Sqdn 4.36; Stalled on take off crashed and overturned outside aerodrome Miramshah 13.10.36 DBR; SoC 26.5.37.
J9721
(Dual Control); PD Sealand; AD Drigh Rd; 60 Sqdn(P) 4.30 - 3.32; AD Drigh Rd 1.10.32; 60 Sqdn 1.33 - 3.33; 27 Sqdn 6.33 - 11.33; 60 Sqdn 3.34 - 1.35.
K1291
Deld to PD 18.2.31; AD Drigh Rd 23.4.31; 27 Sqdn coded F; 5Flt IAF;damaged in gale Cochin 23.4.42;RoS; ran into soft ground taxying and tipped up, Willingdon Is Cochin 28.5.42; SoC 4.1.43
K2282
Deld to HAD 11.2.32; ATC Leuchars 22.5.35; AOS 20.1.36; 1 ASU 28.3.36; to 845M 27.5.36 at E&WS.

Info from J1 - J9999 and The K File both Air Britain.

All the best
Alex

Re: Request: Wapiti service records
 

That's brilliant Alex, many thanks indeed.

If I may, just a couple of quick questions about the abbreviations: what does AD stand for? And the numbers and letters in brackets after the Squadron numbers, e.g. 39 Sqdn (9) and 27 Sqdn (G) - would they be likely to be individual code letters/numbers assigned to the aircraft?

Regards

Simon

Re: Request: Wapiti service records
 

AD is Air Depot

I agree that the letter in brackets is the individual identity within the unit.

Re: Request: Wapiti service records
 

Thanks Graham, good to hear from you.

I'll pass on the info from you and Alex to my other half's cousin - I'm sure he'll be extremely pleased to receive it.

Regards

Simon