[Chris Thomas]

Well, I'm back at my computer ... but looking at the above posts I almost wish I wasn't! Thank you Henk and the rest of the boys!

First MJ779. I do not have 443's ORB to hand but from my notes made for Vol2 of 2ndTAF, I found no losses on 23 September 44 but noted Sherwood as missing on 26 September in MJ779. I know the Form 78 for MJ779 gives the date as 23 September but errors on these records are common.

I also think this is has given rise to the supposed crash-landing on this date, where someone has linked the Form 78 serial/date to a name in 443's ORB (my bet that it is 'Stevenson'). Not as stupid as it sounds as there are many instances where the ORB writer fails to mention such minor items as a forced landing in Allied territory. However this one, if it ever happened, was in enemy territory! Which also spoils the theory that the aircraft was recovered and repaired. Even if the location is wrong and it was in Allied territory, 3 days is a bit too quick to recover, repair and reissue a Spit after a wheels-up landing!

As Horst says, there is no loss recorded in the '2nd TAF log...etc' for the 23rd and there is for the 26th; however on its own this does not mean a great deal as there are many omissions in that document - as well as some totally spurious entries. Users beware!

I regret to say I cannot add much to what has been said regarding the mystery Spit on 8 February 45. The theories on PV143/Oulman sound plausible but could only be confirmed by French MoD records (I have no experience of them). An engine change at 84GSU is also plausible but I do not think you will find any note of it in surviving records - the ORB does not go into that sort of detail.

One outside chance to confirm that an engine change took place is if (a big 'if'!)there are Forms OR101 attached to 345 squadron records. 2ndTAF squadrons were required to compile various monthly returns and the OR101 recorded the movement in and out of aircraft into the squadron, including the reason for movement out. On some forms I have seen 'for engine change' although this was usually to an R&SU rather than a GSU. For a handful of units these forms still exist, bound into the back of the ORB but the chance of them being there is less than 10 to 1 ... and then you will be looking at a microfilm copy of a bromide copy (reduced size) of a hand-written original ... and some units did not give every detail required. Ah the joys of research.
CT