Hydroplanes used by the RAF ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

From memory I have seen in an old magazine, pictures of Hydroplanes in use by the RAF in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Were these oddities used by any specific RAF Squadrons or Maritime Units or just one or two used by the odd unit here and there ?

Oh, and were they by chance given serial numbers ?

Thanks
Alex

[Leendert]

Alex,

Found a picture of a craft named a hydroplane here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/201...mpaign/100140/

Scroll down to picture 15.

Picture is from 1942 in the Nile delta.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Alex,

Flight Magazine of Dec. 24th, 1942 had some other pictures: of the "hydroglisseur".

See http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...ml?search=nile

Regrads,

Leendert

[Alex Smart]

Hello Leendert,
Yes, thats the photo, from Flight, thanks.
Is it known if it was the only one or were there others in service ?
Looks like the motor was an ex Seagull/Walrus pod.
Alex

[Boris Ciglic]

There was the No.2 Yugoslav Squadron, operating eight Do 22 floatplanes and a SiM XIV-H floatplane under command of No. 230 Squadron / 201 Naval Cooperation RAF Group from Alexandria and Aboukir, after they escaped from Yugoslavia in April 1941. From 7 May 1941 until 23 April 1942 the squadron flew 912 combat missions (1.760 flying hours) and lost four aircraft:
Do 22 "311" on 26.8.41.
Do 22 "312" on 22.10.41.
Do 22 "307" on 22.12.41.
SiM XIV-H "157" on 2.2.42.

Cheers,
Boris

[Boris Ciglic]

... and the floatplanes administratively received RAF serials, but these were never applied on them (AX708-AX715 for Do 22's and AX716 for the SiM-XIVH)

[Brian]

Hi Boris

Were any of the floatplanes you list lost to enemy action? If so, by flak or fighters?

Cheers
Brian

[Boris Ciglic]

None were lost to enemy action, 311 and 312 were scuttled after suffering engine failure, 307 was not actually lost as I wrote but rather hit by flak from a friendly cargo ship and one of its crew members severely wounded. 157 crashed in sandstorm.

Cheers,
Boris

[Brian]

Hi Boris

Thanks for that. Are you able to provide more information regarding 307 being hit by AA fire from a friendly cargo ship, please? What vessel? Also, who was the crewman wounded? And the pilot?

Cheers
Brian

[Boris Ciglic]

Hi Brian,

The seaplane took-off at 6.25 on anti-submarine patrol off of Alexandria. Crew: Sgt Šimun Pišpek (pilot), 1/Lt Boleslav Ivković (observer), Sgt Jovan Kikanović (radio-operator). When 100 kilometers off shore, they noticed a 10.000 brt ship on a 90 degree course towards the Suez. The crew went down to 500 meters to identify the ship, which carried British flag. When at 700 meters from it, they felt a strong jolt and Kikanović informed the others that he was severely wounded, having his left leg amputated above knee in hospital in Alexandria.

Cheers,
Boris