238 Sqn Hurricane I, P3830 Code?

[PJWIGHT]

And another one:
I am looking for the individual code for this aircraft VK-? which was shot down by an Bf110 on the 26 Sep 1940, aircraft crashed at Merlins Farm, Calbourne, Isle of Wight, Pilot P/O R A Kings baled out.

Thanks

Pete

[Peter Cornwell]

Pete,

To the best of my knowledge the individual aircraft letter was not recorded I'm afraid. But can you please confirm the location of this crash as I have it down nearby at 'Coleman's Farm, Porchfield' and believed to be that excavated in April 1982 ? Any clarification will be appreciated.

[PJWIGHT]

Colemans Farm, Porchfield I have as the crash site of a 607 Sqn Hurricane, P5205, downed on the same day, Pilot Flt Lt C E Bowen, baled out OK.
This is from published and internet information, I cannot vouch for it from a primary source. The sites are only a few miles apart and it is possible they may have been mixed up, crash times and the aircraft flight times which I do not have would have to be investigated.
This aircraft I am also seeking the code for: AF-?, but havent yet posted a request.

Pete

[shooshoobaby]

Pete -
No Joy on Code but My Hurricane Book notes that
P3830 - Assigned Brooklands 7/40 used for Various
Trial Installations to improve Rearward Field of View.
Also - 9/30/40 P/O R.A. Kings in N2474 collided with
L1702 - Bailed out OK near Shaftsbury , Dorset.
Tough Week !
Mike

[Peter Cornwell]

Pete,

Thanks for that. Can you please detail the 'published sources' to which you refer ? Both aircraft came down during the same engagement and within a mile of each other so determining exactly which was which is obviously reliant upon some fairly reliable sources. Thanks.

[Tapper]

I have a copy of the 238 ORB for the 26th September but its a late afternoon / early evening ORB.
Kings is not listed, as already shot down by this time but here are the aircraft shown as operational...may help someone's research?
P4232 P3618
P3836 P3767
P3618 P3178
P3178 N2546
P4232 P3219
P3599 P3599
R3836

Interestingly I have had a quick scan through the 238 ORBS and cant find P3830 listed at all.
However by my research on 238...Sgt Bann the Squadron ORBS and 540 forms are not that accurate.
Good Luck
Jon Eeles

[PJWIGHT]

RE: Published Information
Battle of Britain, Then & Now
Battle in the Skies over the Isle of Wight. H J Leal
Wight Air Wrecks. A T Gilliam

The first two identify P3830 as the Colemans Farm Aircraft and the other as Calbourne (listed as P5208 in Battle in the Skies)
Wight Air wrecks reverses the crash sites.
Both sites were excavated by S Vizzard in 1982, only fragments were found at Colemans Farm, the remains of the engine and some cockpit parts were recovered at Calbourne.
The aircraft went down within 15 minutes of each other and only a mile or two apart, which is which is difficult to establish unless original records are found which can confirm one or the other.

Pete

[PJWIGHT]

Tapper, can you check and see if your record book identifies any of the aircraft you listed by code letter, these I could at least eliminate as possibilities. P3830 was lost mid afternoon and I think it is safe to say the code wont have been reused by that evening.

Thanks

Pete