154 Sqn Mustang IV serials

[BruceMk11]

Looking to tie up the serials with the a/c lettered A, V, J, F, L and U.

KH721 was apparently the first 'A', lost on the 12/3/45 (F/Lt Ted Andrews POW). A replacement 'A' doesn't appear in the ORB until the 29th (only two ops before 154's disbandment).

Any help appreciated.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by BruceMk11

Looking to tie up the serials with the a/c lettered A, V, J, F, L and U.

KH721 was apparently the first 'A', lost on the 12/3/45 (F/Lt Ted Andrews POW). A replacement 'A' doesn't appear in the ORB until the 29th (only two ops before 154's disbandment).

Any help appreciated.

I have no skin in the game but is seems unusual that other Squadron code letters appeared before the first A?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
These are the Mustang IV's of 154 Sqdn according to the Air Britain RAFSerial Numbers books. And links to USAAF serial numbers found in the Joe Baugher website.
21a/c listed as used by 154 Sqdn, one at least was used on two separate occasions.
KH641/L =44-11168 - 154/442/122/126 - SOC 27/11/46.
KH647=44-11174 - 154 - Overshot landing Peterhead 09/08/45.
KH651/P =44-11178 - 154 - Lost off Lowestoft 31/03/45.
KH659/J=44-11186 - 154/442/65 - SOC 28/12/46.
KH661 - 442/19 - SOC 18/02/46.
KH665/V =44-11257 - 154/442 - Flew into ground, Norfolk 10/05/45.
KH666=44-11258 - 154/442 - Crashed Hunsdon 19/04/45.
KH668=44-11260 - 154/65/442/65 - SOC 02/04/46.
KH670=44-11262 - 154 - SOC 04/11/46.
KH680=44-11383 - 154/442/611/Bradwell Bay/2APS - SOC 03/01/47.
KH694/P =44-11397 - 154/442 - Lost off Dorset 18/06/45.
KH697/K =44-11400 - 154 - MIA 29/03/45.
KH700=44-11403 - 154/442/611 - SOC 09/11/46.
KH709/J =44-11412( Used twice so maybe two different letter's?) - 154/65/442/65/154 - SOC 21/11/46.
KH711=44-11478 - 154/442/611 - SOC 31/01/47.
KH721/A =44-11488 - 154 - MIA 12/03/45.
KH729/A=44-11496 - 154/442/234/126/234/126 - SOC 26/06/47.
KH735=44-11502 - 154/442/303 - SOC 26/03/47.
KH737/O =44-11504 - 154/19 - SOC 09/11/46.
KH764=44-11592 - 154/442 - MIA 15/04/45.
KH765/R =44-11593 - 154/442/234/126/234 - SOC 06/09/47.
KH771=44-11599 - 154 - SOC 24/02/47.
Perhaps others can add a/c in Squadron letter's.
Good hunting
Alex

[BruceMk11]

Thanks Alex. Based on mostly secondary sources, I can match a few of those serial numbers to a/c letters.

KH651/P

KH697/K

KH721/A

KH737/O

KH765/R

[SteveB]

Hi Bruce

All the 154Sqn a/c were taken over by 442(RCAF)Sqn and there is a bit more info around on their a/c. If you assume that the a/c kept the same code letter (which was quite common practice) then I've got:

A KH729
J KH709
L KH641
V KH665

442Sqn did not use 'U' so that is not so easy to identify and they had a new 'F' that did not serve with 154Sqn. Just before 154Sqn was disbanded four a/c dropped out of the line:
KH651 CatE 31/3
KH670 CatB 27/3
KH697 CatE 29/3
KH771 CatAC 29/3

So I would guess that 'F' and 'U' were among those serials?

Steve

[BruceMk11]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your input. 'U' was flown by W/O Vickery on the 27/3 and was damaged in combat, so must be KH670.

'P' was used by F/S Pritchard on the 31/3 and he failed to return, so presumably KH651. I couldn't find an entry for Pritchard at the CWGC so perhaps he was captured.

[BruceMk11]

Alex: sorry but I didn't study your list closely enough and missed the a/c letters!! Did you work them out or are they from the Air Britain book?

[Alex Smart]

Hello Bruce,
I edited them following other post's
Alex

[Fozzy65]

Hi together,
somebody know where KH721 crashed?
I found a crashsite at south Germany near Stuttgart. It could be KH721 ???
Thanks
Fozzy

[BruceMk11]

Just noticed your query Fozzy!

The ORB indicates F/Lt Andrews was 'forced to bale out over target area'. And the target was Dortmund.

KH721 therefore not likely to have crashed anywhere near Stuttgart.