[Martin Gleeson]

Larry,
.
Concerning first names and crew positions.
I had been meaning to reply on this matter on the thread you began some weeks ago, but will do so now. I agree with this approach 100% and will do whatever I can to assist you, Peter and the EOE team to achieve this regarding the British and Commonwealth personnel. Because of the Air Force Lists, London Gazette website, etc. I expect the first names of officers can be found in at least 98% of cases. NCOs and Other Ranks will be more difficult, but most should be possible to identify. There are many resources available, not least colleagues on this and other forums. A service number if available is often the key.
Apart from any other consideration recording their full names provides a greater tribute to those men, and gives their descendants a much greater link to them and awareness of their exploits and sacrifices.
.
On that PH / PM Battle photo I believe it is a 12 Sqn. aircraft also. Both the unit code location and style of fin flash leads me to this conclusion.
.
'K9408' / PM-N.
I cannot get any clarity on the two IWM photos. I suppose we would have to purchase them and perhaps that is the idea !
There is at least one photo of PM-N showing the serial L5446. It is on page 269 of 'TBoF,T&N' but was captioned L5516 at the time of publication. At least one other E-bay photo appears to show the bottom part of '..446'. Oddly PM-N (L5446) has a standard application of the unit code and individual letter, ie. on either side of the roundel. Whereas most 103 Sqn. machines have all three letters to one side of the roundel. While the IWM images are not very clear at least one of them seems not to have a letter after the roundel. Although we do not have details of the history of L5446 ( THE BATTLE FILE ) I do not believe it was a replacement aircraft acquired after May 10th to replace another PM-N lost on the 10th or 12th. The codes are too neatly painted ! Looking at the individual serials used by 103 Sqn. it seems the first replacement aircraft they received was on the 14th (P5237, and this survived the campaign). Next on the 18th they acquired their first proper batch of replacements (seven). All this leads me to believe that PM-N was L5446 and was on the squadron strenght on May 10th.
As far as I know K9408 was not belly-landed on May 10th after suffering heavy damage. K9408 was recovered and sent back to the UK where it was repaired and flew again in training roles.
.
Regards,
.
Martin.