Crash site accuracy

[biddendenlocal]

Can anybody say how accurate map references given in official MOD documents are wnen refering to WW2 crash sites in England .It seems that a 6 figure number and area ref was used.
Has anybody compiled a list of crash sites in Kent for WW2
Also has anyone got a copy of ordinance survey map of Biddenden Kent for 1940 ?

[Observer1940]

A WW2 six figure grid reference (preceded by a letter) should be reasonably accurate, if the correct 1" to 1 mile Ordnance Survey RAF / War Office "War Edition" grid Map is used.

6 Figure to 4 Figure
For example U.892361 expressed in four figures would be in the U.8936 Square on a four figure map. On a four figure map you have to sub-divide the square into tenths, to plot a six figure reference, but I expect you learnt that in Geography.

Pre WW2
I have one of the pre-war (pre WW2) OS 1" War Office Sheets for the AA and they used the same grid as the later 1940 RAF War Edition WW2 Maps, I noticed.

Crash Expressed as Mile/s NE of ...
An initial report may just say 1 mile N.E. of Southam for example, some of these were probably only accurate to within say a quarter of a mile, or occasionly less.

Seventh Series 1" OS Grid Different From War Edition
However, I have seen a posting where someone attempted to use a post war Ordnance Survey National Grid Seventh Series (7th Series) 1" to 1 mile Map (Somtimes called the 1" OS Red Series, as the covers are coloured Red). However comparing the two, the letter/number grid is different (has been offset / moved) over the later 1" map.

Unfortunately, I don't have the War Edition Sheets covering Kent, but if you have the reference and place, next time I'm at TNA, I will see what I can find out, unless someone else answer's you first.

Lucky
You are very lucky to get an official WW2 Flying Accident Report (RAF Court of Inquiry / RAF Court of Enquiry)!! The MoD inform me that they have many thousands (20K) uncatalogued from WW2 in 2010 and we can't get them to search them fully under Freedom of Information Act, as it would exceed the FOI limit. The sample search under FOI revealed they were injury flying accidents according to the Judge in my recent challenge to Tribunal.

Regards Mark

[Observer1940]

Originally Posted by biddendenlocal

Can anybody say how accurate map references given in official MOD documents are wnen refering to WW2 crash sites in England .It seems that a 6 figure number and area ref was used.
Has anybody compiled a list of crash sites in Kent for WW2
Also has anyone got a copy of ordinance survey map of Biddenden Kent for 1940 ?

I was at a bookshop last week and purchased several 100 OS War Grid maps dated 1932 & 1940 and comparing the attached (for research purposes only) of Sheet 126, with my adjacent WW2 1940 Grid Sheets, these sheet extracts also have the War Grid on them.

These Sheets are the OS four figure War Grid, so to plot the square you will need the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th numbers of your Six figure WW2 map reference (which should start with a letter).

The Third and Sixth figure in your WW2 map reference will give you the Tenths in the square. If you have any difficulty 'private message' me your letter and Grid reference.

This Military Grid must have changed sometime after WW2 because I was also shown some later Military Sheets (post WW2) which had a different grid numbering.

Bear in mind that if you print them off at A4 or A3 the reproduction will not be 100% original size as I have scanned one quarter of the original Sheet on a larger scanner.

Attached on next post, I have just noticed they can be opened up in a 2nd window and then expanded.

Mark

[Observer1940]

Hopefully the attachments will be attached this time.

[Andy Saunders]

Just spotted this.

Biddendenlocal, I have all of the OS Casini Grip 1940 War Edition maps for southern England.

I suspect your query is in relation to the crash site of Sgt Kean.

We do know the exact location. I can plot this for you and give you a current OS map ref for that site and the wartime reference. They are both quite different grid systems and numbering.

[Observer1940]

Biddendenlocal

Glad Andy has spotted this post.

Mark