F/O Francis Richard Lee Mellersh 1105145

[Buckeye30]

Brian just to confuse things a little; there is an old "Flypast" article ( June 1992) on the Fighter Interception Unit (from Oct. 1944 the Fighter Interception Development Squadron) which mentions the various aircraft used for night trials one of which was a Mustang ---the author S/L Howard-Williams ex. -FIU pilot ( and he should know) says it was "borrowed" by Mellersh in July to shoot down VIs at night. The FIU was based at Ford then, along with 96 Sqn.'s Mosquito XIIIs. I would imagine that by this time the Spitfire's capabilities or otherwise for night interception were well known but not so the Mustang's.
If the partial serial 473 is right this could be AG473 ( Mustang I), FD473 (Mustang IA), KH473 (Mustang III) or KM473 (Mustang IV).
Fairlop was quite close to Hunsdon where 29 Sqn. was but Ford is down in Sussex so the photo is still a mystery. Incidentally Mellersh' father flew Camels in Roy Brown's squadron (209) and was in the fight when Richthofen was killed.
Nick