[Alex Smart]

Hi Peter,

To clarify my earlier note re P3216.
The Air Brit P1000- R9999 book has .
P3216
43
Damaged by return fire from a Ju87 and crash landed, Selsey, Sussex, 16.8.40; repaired and cv to Mk.II BV174.

Then

BV174 ex P3216 one of 20 Hurricane IIa's converted during re engining programe by Rolls Royce between October 1940 and March 1941 under contract B116153/40. BV174 went to Malta and its Night fighter Unit.being SoC 2.4.42 no further details. (BA100-BZ999 revised version). "Hurricanes over Malta " has on page 296, BV174/B with 185 Sqdn S/D 2/4/42, con from P3216. And on page 246 "P/O Taffy Andrew's BV174 was badly shot up by a Messerschmitt but although slightly shrapnel wounded in both feet he succeeded in landing at Luqa." So presumably the a/c was either bombed there later that day or was so badly damaged it was SoC that same date.

However,
Also in Hurricanes over Malta" on page 106 (chapter VI)
"At this time 185 Squadron was redesignated as the islands night fighter unit a move made possible by the arrival during the day (1st June ) of yet more reinforcements. Under the code name Operation Rocket, 43 Hurricane II's arrived from the carriers Ark Royal and Furious."

And
On page 130 at the end of the same chapter,
At about this time the Malta Night Fighter Unit (MNFU) was formed at Takali with eight Hurricane IIC's and four IIB's.Annotated "18" which on page 305 has a list of Hurricane serial numbers of those flown during September among which is BV174.

So yet another question opens up with the fate of BV174, was she still active in September of 1940 ?

Aces High vol 1
Has for Upton,
12 July 40 N3267
8 August 40 P3267
13 August 40 V7206
15 August 40 "
16 August 40
18 August 40 P3466
18 August 40 "
4 September 40
In the text it does however say "On 16th August 1940 the engine of his Hurricane, P3216 was hit by return fire and he crash landed at Selsey."
Why this number was not given in the list I have no idea.

Apart from the website you provided a link too, can you provide any other reference to Upton's a/c on the 16th August 40 as being P3216 ? as "Aces High" is my only one so far.

Thanks
Alex