[Alex Smart]

Hello,
AB's W1000 to Z9999 is for

Air Britain's publication "Royal Air Force Aircraft W1000 to Z9999". Which is one book of a series of some 20 odd books from "J1 to J9999 & WW1 Survivors" throught to "WA100 to WZ999".
Each book has lists of serial numbers of Royal Air Force Aircraft with brief detal of RAF use and known fate.

Also to elaborate on the entery in the book "Hurricanes over Malta"
Quote
"The Regia Aeronautica was conspicuous by its absence over the next few days, which proved fortuitous for the defenders as, on 14th June (1941), there was another delivery of Hurricanes. On this occasion Ark Royal was joined by the new fleet carrier HMS Victorious, which had on board 28 Hurricanes of desert-bound 238 Squadron. Ark Royal carried a further 20 such aircraft of 260 Squadron bound for the same destination, with Malta as the staging post. As the Hurricanes became airborne, Hudsons from Gibraltar arrived to navigate each batch of 12 to Malta. One Hurricane failed to take off, a second crashed into the sea, and a third suffered engine problems en route and was last seen heading for the North African coast, where it landed at Blida with fuel leakage problems; before he was taken prisoner the pilot set fire to his aircraft. As the remainder reached Malta, one (Z4356) overshot the runway on arrival and hit a wall, although Sgt. Robert Wilson was unhurt. However , a second (Z4317) spun in and crashed north-west of Lida, killing the pilot, Sgt. Robert MacPherson, also of 260 Squadron."

On page 295 it mentions that of all the Hurricanes delivered to Malta some 150 eventually flew out to North Africa, so it is quite possible that following its meeting with a wall in 1941 Z4356 was repaired and returned to service ending up in another accident in North Africa which is that shown in the photo. Then being SOC on 1st July 1942.

Alex