[Danny Hill]

Hi Tom,
according to Bennetts log book, the 15/16th Jan '44 claim of Fw190 destroyed, they were flying 'W' HK421.

The same aircraft on 28/29th Jan when they damaged an Me410 (ran out of ammo)

However, on 24/2/44, they were scrambled in Mosquito 'N' (doesnt record the serial number) and destroyed a He177- comments "5 cont'ts 1.vis on lane"

It seems HK421 ZJ-W is their (Parker-Rees & Bennetts) usual aircraft until 16th March '44, when they switch to ZJ-T MM497. In this aircraft they claim 1 Ju88 destroyed on 12/4/44 and 1 Me410 destroyed the following night, 13/4/44

This aircraft is also used to claim V1's on 16/17 June, 5/6 july and 6/7 July.
On 9/10 July, the aircraft code is given as 'G' but no serial- this must be MM562.
On 17/18 July, the aircraft code is given as 'V', which was destroyed after engaging a 3rd V1 (having already destroyed 2)- Bennett records "hit by flak or pieces. Both engines failed and R.T. Bailed out into drink 30M S.W. Dungeness. 6 hrs in dinghy. Picked up by HMS Obedient"

So 'V' must be MM511.

Finally, 14/15 August, Bennett records 'T' as the code of the Mosquito but no serial. They flew this aircraft on and off until December when 96Sqn were disbanded, so all I can assume is MM497 was either lost or put to another squadron, and the code letter 'T' was moved to MM525.

In the research material I have been given, their is a close up of a late war Mosquito night-fighter (thimble nose), dated 8/1/45 with the serial MM682, but you can only see the code ZQ on the side- any ideas about that?

Hope the above is useful,

Danny