Trainbusting

[TormodChristiansen]

Can anyone identify this location/railtrack, perhaps a bit difficult one...
The books "Krigsmaskiner" ISBN: 82-7365-127-4, 1988. (Warmachines) says it's from Norway 1943, could this be wrong?

regards,
Tormod Christiansen.

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Do you know the type of the attacking a/c from the context in the book?

Mikkel Plannthin

[Juha]

I would say that it is a Beaufighter, Mk. VI or later.

Juha

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Juha,

Just curious - how on earth are you able to tell that from the photo?

Mikkel

[Graham Boak]

I'll let Juha answer that, but I agree with him. However it might be a Mk.1c after refit.

The upperwing roundels are odd, though. The wide white rings suggest a early-war A roundel, which should not have been on the upper surfaces. If we assume that it is really a thin-ring C roundel, that would date the photo to 1945. Given that most similar Beau photos come from the Balkans in 1945, doubt must be passed on the date and place of the photo.

However, if they are right, then that's an interesting example of non-standard markings.

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Juha,

No need. I am feeling a bit stupid due to the fact that I had not noticed the aircraft in the right side of the photo until Graham mentioned the roundels. Only then I scrolled. :-)

I got to have a higher resolution, so that this will not happen again!!!

Sorry, Mikkel

[Smithy]

First post here after finding this wonderful forum.

Thought I´d add my 2c worth to the discussion. I´m leaning towards this aircraft being a Beau from Dallachy, possibly something like 489 (NZ) Sqn, or one of the other Beau squadrons based there and who were heavily involved in operations over the Norwegian coastline.

Also Tormod, there is a Norwegian book on the coastal attacks by the RAF which has a painting of an attacking Beaufighter on the cover´which could possibly help you. I can´t remember the name of the book but it was in the Bodø public library (when I lived in Norway) which was very good. I´ll see if I can dig up the name.

[Franek Grabowski]

The roundels are pretty OK. I am certain those wide white circles are only an optical illusion and those are standard C1(?) ones - please note that quite often eg. white stripes seem wider in B&W photos, especially on those of poor quality. If it is Norway, I do not know, if so it is either 404, 455 or 489 Sqn.
Oh, those are definetelly forgotten boys awaiting their history to be written. I have done a little bit of research on their Polish escorts and it is fascinating stuff.

[TormodChristiansen]

Guys, thanks for the overwhelming response to this post. This picture is truly a mystery for me. This was in of one of my first books about WW2 Planes/weapons, the book certainly looks well used by now!

Regarding the picture, I know about attacks on trains during the Norwegian campaign april-june 1940, but attacks AFTER this date on rolling stock in Norway was pretty scarce, or I'am wrong here? The point is that traveling in Norway (very generalized) excluding Coastal Shipping after 1942/43 and train riding in march-may 1945 (sabotage actions) was pretty safe, even for German soldiers. But I can't find any information from the Norwegian Railways (NSB, the same organization then as today) that such a attack was done on their Trains. Could the caption be wrong?

I will post a large high res. picture when I get to my study appartment since it will take ages with my dialup connection here

Regards,
Tormod Christiansen.

[TormodChristiansen]

The Plane is most probably a Beaufighter, try to compare the picture with this one:



Regards,
Tormod Christiansen.