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Old 2nd April 2018, 19:05
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Great Britain
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Re: Evasion of H. Theobald from RAF 253 Sqn

Hello,
From the 52ndfg honor roll,
It looks like the transition from Spitfire's to Mustang's caused a little upset within the 52nd FG.
Received their 1st Mustang on the 14th April,44. The 2nd and 5th FS's became non operational on the 14th April, and the 4th on the 17th. On the 21st the FAF took possession of selected Spitfires.
In the first two weeks of May the 52FG lost 12 pilots.
So it is possible that it was this reason( change of a/c type together with sudden loss of so many pilots) that the 253Sqn RAF became mixed with the 52ndFG . This also makes any losses of the Spitfires a little difficult for us when searching for serial numbers, almost needle in haystack time.
What I came up with today
MAY 44
4th - 253 - loss
11 - 253 - EF740.
15 - 253 - JK785 - F/O. FINNIE (?)
19 - 253 - loss
22 - 253 - MH593(?)
27 - 253 - TUFNELL.
28 - 253 - EF706(?) - THEOBALD.
JUNE 44
2 - 253 - loss
6 - 253 - JK114 - LAVOIE (?)

Re Theobald
EF706
Spitfire's International has -
TOC RAF 9-7-43
NA 30-11-43
12AF 31-1-44
52FG
Returned RAF 31-5-44

AB EA100EZ999 both old and new versions has -
130/USAAF/252 - SOC 29-8-46

SO it is possible(?) that this a/c was being used by 253 Sqn personell before the paperwork that gave the return date to RAF as 31st May.

It could be that Theobald was in EF706.

all for now
Alex
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