Mustang Ia of F/O Alan Ronan Brodrick (2 Squadron)

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Good night to all!
On August 1944, this officer from 2 Squadron was badly shot up while on a Reconnaissance mission over the continent. He managed to return to his base where he collapsed soon after landing. I would be very pleased to know:
a) the date of this incident
b) the serial number of the Mustang and codes ( was the plane scrapped? )

Thank you for any help
Adriano

[SteveB]

Adriano

On 7/8/44 F/Off A R Brodrick flew a TacR mission with F/Off R G West in Mustang IIs (P-51A) FR913 and FR923 over Northern France. They ran into accurate medium and light flak and the sqn diary records without making it clear which pilot that he was "hit in four places" and the a/c was "hit in the scoop and hood shot off".

FR913 is recorded as Cat AC. It was sent to repair units but eventually SOC as CatE.

I would be interested to know why you are interested in this incident?

Steve

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Steve!
Many many thanks! I am actually doing some researches about 2 Squadron as well as 168, 170, 268 and 400 Squadrons.F/O Brodrick received the DSO for this mission.
Thank you again! I was trying to figure out the serial number of the aircraft and if it was SOC. You helped me quite a lot!
Yours
Adriano

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Adriano,

Brodrick had previously flown with 4 Sqn but I don't know when he joined 2 Sqn (or left 4 Sqn).

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[SteveB]

Adriano

Thank you I did not know about the DSO.

Andy

I don't know when Brodrick was posted from 4Sqn to 2Sqn. 4Sqn started to convert to Mosquitos in Dec 43 and to Spitfire XIs in Jan 44; they last flew Mustangs in Mar 44 when they moved to Sawbridgeworth. Brodrick is last recorded in 4Sqn on 27/12/43 undergoing conversion training on Oxfords. He first appears in 2Sqn records on 14/4/44.

Steve

[Andy Fletcher]

Many thanks Steve for the additional info on Brodrick.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[JamesBrodrick]

Dear Steve, Andy and Adriano,

I just found your posts. Alan Brodrick was my father. He died twenty years ago, but I have his pilot's logbook from 1944 onwards, plus other records, and his own recollections of the incident. Are you still interested in researching this?

best wishes
James Brodrick

[Stein Meum]

Hello James,

I'm researching the Norwegian pilots who flew with No. 2 Sqn, including Tufte-Johnsen who had 2 postings with the Sqn, the last in 1944.
Did your father log the flights by A/C code letters? The ORB logs the flights by Serial Number only, but if the log book contains letters, I might possibly identify one ore more of the Mustang II's that T-J flew.

Stein

[JamesBrodrick]

Hello Stein,

Looking at his log book for June 6 1944 (D day) to August, the aircraft are recorded as follows:
Mustang 1A: V, E
Mustang II: M, P, F, X, Z, S, V, Q, E, T, R, W, J
This was in Gatwick, Odiham and 'France B14'

I can scan the log book and email them if you like.

best wishes

James

[paulmcmillan]

James

Very interesting I don't suppose you have the Serials associated with the Codes do you ?


Thanks

Paul