Tempest PD-487

[Alain57]

Hi ,
Would someone be so kind to see if the following is correct:
On october 7th 1944 a Tempest V PD-487 from N° 438 sqdn made a emergency landing at Lantremange ,a village near the town of Waremme in Belgium ,due to a fuel shortage. The pilot Sgt Randall Irwin was on a ferry flight from the UK to the airfield in Eindhoven Holland .

[Bill Walker]

PD487 was a Typhoon, which was 438's equipment in October 1944. Hugh Halliday's very detailed work on RCAF Typhoons makes no mention of Sgt. Irwin or PD487. Perhaps he was from another unit, ferrying PD487 to 438 Squadron (then based at B.78, Eindhoven)?

[Alain57]

Hello ,
Thanks Bill for the reply.

Alain57

[Henk Welting]

Bill,
According to Air Britain serial PD487 was never allotted to any aircraft.
Regards,
Henk.

[Bill Walker]

You're right Henk, just re-read my copy of Robertson's serial book. but it was a blacked out block from a large batch of Typhoons, PD446 to PD623 (with gaps).

[Chris Thomas]

Typhoon PD497 f/l Lantremange 7 Oct 44, having run out of fuel when lost during ferry flight from 83 GSU Thorney Island to 438 Sqn at B.78 Eindhoven. Pilot was Flg Off F.R.F.Skelly. Cat Ac damage, repaired and allocated to 440 Sqn.
CT

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Chris. You're talking of 83 GSU. Do you know whether there was any document left of this Support/Service Unit ? Reason of my question: we excavated a RR Merlin in Holland with a serial number that never was mounted in a Spitfire !!! We believe 83 GSU changed an engine but the a/c card not updated (1945 !!!).
Regards,
Henk.

[Alain57]

Thanks gents for your help.

Alain57

[Chris Thomas]

Originally Posted by Henk Welting

Thanks Chris. You're talking of 83 GSU. Do you know whether there was any document left of this Support/Service Unit ? Reason of my question: we excavated a RR Merlin in Holland with a serial number that never was mounted in a Spitfire !!! We believe 83 GSU changed an engine but the a/c card not updated (1945 !!!).
Regards,
Henk.

Hello Henk. Although there are ORBs for all the GSUs, including No.83, I regret to say I have not come across any detailed information regarding specific aircraft, and certainly not quoting engine numbers.

I presume the 'card' you mention is the Form 78 'movement card' - I don't think these were ever updated when engines were changed in service. The only place I know where you might find such a number would be on the 'accident card' (Form 1180) if the Spit was lost in an accident rather than to enemy action.
Regards
Chris

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Chris for your info. A pity to have such a nice engine on stock and don't know from which aircraft it was. We do believe the engine came from PV143, 8-2-1945, 345 Sqn (Your vol. 3 "2nd TAF", page 418). You may find more on the engine on http://www.arga-nl.nl. There is an English version. For info on the excavation click on "locations" and double click on "Wehl" what's situated left of "Doetinchem".
Regards,
Henk.