Tempest Mk Vs used by No 3 Squadron?

[ChristianK]

Gentlemen,
is there a listing of the 3 Squadron's Hawker Tempests, either during the period 1945-1948 or in general? I am especially looking for one aircraft carrying the code J5-J

Kind regards and many thanks in advance,
Christian

[Kutscha]

J5-J had serial number SN344.

[ChristianK]

Hi, thanks for your quick reply. Here is a photo of this plane: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/att...0&d=1138981802
I was asking because on the right landing gear cover you see a serial ending with xxx95. Can this be a replacement part then or was there any other Tempest in 3 Squadron service with a serial ending on xxxx95? I was thinking as this photo was taken during peacetime the maintenance crews would have repainted any replacement parts according to the real serial. So, was this J5-J really SN344?

[Chris Thomas]

Originally Posted by ChristianK

I was asking because on the right landing gear cover you see a serial ending with xxx95. Can this be a replacement part then or was there any other Tempest in 3 Squadron service with a serial ending on xxxx95? I was thinking as this photo was taken during peacetime the maintenance crews would have repainted any replacement parts according to the real serial. So, was this J5-J really SN344?

Yes, J5-J was SN344 (confirmed by logbooks). There was a xxx95-serialled Tempest with 3 Sqn at that time - SN295 which was J5-R. SN295 was damaged on 26 August 1946, which may be the reason it was 'cannibalised' for an undercarriage door.

[ChristianK]

Thanks Chris, great piece of detective work that info on SN295!

[Stig Jarlevik]

Christian

SN344 was recorded as J5-J in August 1945

Cheers
Stig