[Peter Cornwell]

I hoped that the photos on p272 of BoFrT&N would provoke this sort of response from readers for I was puzzled by the anomaly of two machines apparently bearing the same HA*R codes when, as Iain has clearly explained, there seems to be no logical explanation accepting, as he obviously does, that the primary sources available to us are, at best, somewhat unreliable.

Examining the photo of the aircraft smouldering away in the thicket from every angle, I remain convinced that the individual code letter carried is an R. But, of course, I must accept (though at a stretch) the possibility that it could be a B for the very plausible reasons proposed by Ex-Shack - amongst others.

Unfortunately, the history of HA*R K9273 is not fully recorded beyond its being ‘Lost in France’ while allocated to No.218 Squadron. We know when it arrived on unit (11.10.38) but other than that its subsequent movements are subject to speculation. So is it possible that it suffered damage sufficient to render it un-airworthy sometime immediately prior to the German offensive, and its replacement ended up in that thicket ? The original source of the photo was German eBay and , apparently, the reverse of the photo carried the hand-written caption ‘Sedan’. Iain’s other photo could well be the same machine after it had finished ‘brewing-up’ but offers us no further evidence. The caption seems to read ‘French aircraft near Niergnies (?)’ but I defer to those better-versed in Sutterlin.

I won’t fuel speculation over this seeming mystery, it is my experience that an answer (usually relatively simple) will eventually turn up. Meantime, I will keep an open mind – though not so wide open that my brains fall out. Thanks to you all for your most useful input.