1 PRU flights to photograph the TIRPITZ

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night to all!
I am seeking information of the MEN and machines of No.1 PRU that photographed the battleship TIRPITZ on the following days:
23 january 1942 ( Spit )
2 February 1942 ( Spit )
15 February 1942 ( Mosquito )
28 February 1942 ( Spitfire that was chased by Lt Heinz knoke of JG 1 - see his war diary "I Flew for the Fuhrer" )
17 july 1942 ( Mosquito ? )

Is there a 1 PRU ORB available? Someone had it on PDF and could share it?

Thanks in advance for any information about those flights to photograph the TIRPITZ.

Yours

Adriano

[Fairlop]

Hi Adriano,

I have 7th July and F/O Bayley in Mosquito PR I, W4054.

Michal

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Fairlop,
Thanks for that entry of 7th July 1942 ( I did not know! ).
I read on another thread that you are a specialist on Spitfires. Do you have a compiled DATA about PDU, 212 Squadron and 1 PRU losses? ( I am particularly interested on the names of the airmen shot down. The serial numbers and codes of machines I think I had a good amount of information, but NO names. ).

Thanks again for your kind contribution

Adriano

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Adriano

23 january 1942 ( Spit ) - F/L A.F.P. Fane
2 February 1942 ( Spit ) - F/L A.F.P. Fane
15 February 1942 ( Mosquito ) - F/L A.E. Hill (Spitfire)
28 February 1942 ( Spitfire that was chased by Lt Heinz knoke of JG 1 - see his war diary "I Flew for the Fuhrer" ) - F/L A.F.P. Fane, photographed Prinz Eugen & Admiral Scheer - no mention of Tirpitz being photographed or of any interception
17 july 1942 ( Mosquito ? ) - F/O F. Higson & Sgt Hayes (Obs.)

confirm 07Jul42 (Mosquito) - F/O K. Bayley & P/O Little (Obs.) photographed Tirpitz, Admiral Scheer & Admiral Hipper

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Andy,
Man! thank you so much! Magnific piece of information! I do have no words to thank you!
It is strange that F/L Fane did not mention being attacked. Lt Heinz Knoke described a very different story - firing at long range, the Spit nose diving and getting away...BUT it could be probable that Fane never looked behind or never saw the Bf 109...
I am in debt with you Andy...Thanks again!
Adriano

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Adriano,

You are very welcome. May I ask your interest, is it the Tirpitz or rather the PR ops. I note in many of your previous posts that you seem to have an interest in PR.

Reference Fane on the 28Feb42, he says he did two runs over the ships and encountered flak (definitely no mention of any interception by enemy a/c).

Fane successfully photographed the Tirpitz on 28Mar42 (very famous picture, low level oblique showing men on the deck).

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Andy!
I am indeed very fond of RAF´s PR operations and PR airmen. They are few and there are few histories ( books ) available. Yes, the famous of 28th March is wonderful...one can even see the Kriegsmarine sailors watching the airplane...
It seems you do know quite a lot about PR operations. Have you got access to the ORB´s of 1 PRU? May I ask you the causes of F/L Pane death? I checked the 18th July 1942 claims by Luftwaffe aircraft but did not find any match. I do guess he crashed during a training or a test. His grave is a Hedsor. Sad loss indeed...he had done some incredible flights and it is amazing he was not awarded a gong for those sucessful flights...
Friendly yours

Adriano

[shooshoobaby]

Adriano-
Interesting Book on PRU and Photo Intelligence.
Evidence In Camera by Constance Babington Smith.
Photos from Roy Conyers Nesbit Collection plus others.
Mike

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Mike ( Shooshoobaby = B-17 nickname )
After years trying to find one exemplar of this famous book I got one last year!
I would also suggest for you:
PILOT, by S/L Joe Patient, DFC ( 1409 Met Flight )
FOCUS ON EUROPE, by F/L Ronald H Foster, DFC, CdG ( 544 Squadron )
EYES OF THE RAF - by Roy Conyers Nesbit ( this one a Reference )
It seems that S/L Braithwaite, DFC* from 1409 Met Flight and 521 Squadron also wrote his memories, but ALAS that´s ALL we do have about PR men and their activities....
Thanks for the information and for joining the thread!
Yours friend and sincerely
Adriano

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

May I ask you the causes of F/L Pane death? I checked the 18th July 1942 claims by Luftwaffe aircraft but did not find any match. I do guess he crashed during a training or a test. His grave is a Hedsor. Sad loss indeed...he had done some incredible flights and it is amazing he was not awarded a gong for those sucessful flights...
Friendly yours

Adriano

Hi Adriano,

Fane took off on the 18Jul42 for a sortie to Flensburg (U-Boat yards at low level). Due to bad weather he landed at Coltishall and eventually decided to head back to Benson even though cloud was down to the deck. Apparently he was flying low along the rail line near Duxford when he crashed. He was thrown clear of his a/c but killed instantly.

Indeed a sad loss for a highly talented individual. He flew a total of 25 PR ops (17 successful) - 98h 50m operational time. Pre war he was a racing car driver.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher