[Iain Torrance]

Dave

Responding on your question re QT-H and L5231.

Firstly I am always cautious on 142 Squ IDs due to the ORB not being contemporary and the errors in plane IDs for 14 May, compounded by the difficulty of reading Srl Nos on photos (indeed anybody got a Srl for QT-L or QT-I???).

However I was surprised that L5231 was proposed as QT-H

My response is that the Roth plane is certainly QT-G crashed at between Longeau and Messancy just inside the Belgium - Luxembourg Border. There is a photo of this plane at p182 of Then and Now. I have seen your tail shot showing the srl no L5231 before and it was attributed to this plane, consistent with ORB.

So on the face of it difficult to explain how the same tail shot is now attributed to QT-H?

However I attach a photo of QT-H in similar position to the QT-H photo you attached. I make the following points.

- the prop of ‘your’ QT-H appears unbent, so not a likely crash
- note in the attached the paint damage on the H plane code consistent with photo of QT-H in standing previously attached in this thread
- there is a lack of damage on the tail plane in the attached which conflicts with the serial no ID photo (though this is not conclusive evidence they are of different planes)
- importantly the trees in the background of the attached are not at all consistent the background in the serial no ID photo

So on balance I suggest the tail shot with L5231 is correctly attributed to QT-G.

Hope that helps – happy to listen to other ideas, see other evidence….

Kind regards

Iain