PRU Royal Air Force

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello

Looking through the ORB's of PRU units and its successors 540, 541 and 542 Squadrons, the coverage of all recon missions is far from complete it seems.

The reason for asking that I want to list the photo recon missions to 'my' airfield Venlo. For most aerial photographs I have the mission number, but it would be nice to have the pilot/plane involved too

Any suggestions are much appreciated ! Best regards from Venlo

Marcel

[Jaap Woortman]

Marcel,

Try the Special Collection of the University of Wageningen.

Jaap

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Jaap,

Thank you ! I know they have lots of aerial recon photo's but that they also know the details of the pilot/plane involved is new to me. In several cases I have the mission number read on the photo's but can't find the mission details.

Warm greetings from Venlo, Marcel

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Marcel,

If you have particular sortie references drop me an e-mail and I will try and find the extra details you require.

von_shagmeister[at]yahoo.co.uk

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Andy,

Thank you very much for your kind offer, please don't spend too much of your time but I have these early recon missions to Venlo just because I have a photograph of it:

8th June 1940 : RAF (FAA, sortie 036) ?
15th March 1941 : 3 PRU, sortie B/85
10th April 1941 : PRU sortie H/832, photo negative nrs. 926, 927
2nd Sept.1941 : PRU sortie T/512, 913-914-915

The ORB's of 540, 541 and 542 all start in October 1942, and the PRU ORB's seem to be incomplete so an(d)y additional info is much appreciated !

Have a nice sunday ! Best regards, Marcel

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Just a quick reply, but have you checked the appendices files to ORB ? Sometimes they will contain sortie reports.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Laurent,

Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I freely admit that I didn't check these because I assumed that the Appendices cover the same time frame as the ORB's.

As I have downloaded the monthly amount of free ORB-downloads very recently, I must wait for 25-30 days before I will be able to check the Appendices too

Have a nice sunday! Marcel

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis

8th June 1940 : FAA/036 [212 Sqn; F/O A.L. Taylor; Spitfire N3116]
15th March 1941 : 3 PRU, sortie B/85 [F/L N.H.E. Messervy; Spitfire X4385]
10th April 1941 : PRU sortie H/832, photo negative nrs. 926, 927 [F/O G.E. Hughes; Spitfire X4335]
2nd Sept.1941 : PRU sortie T/512, 913-914-915 [F/O R.V. Whitehead; Spitfire X4503]

Morning Marcel,

Additional details in bold above. If you have any further PRU related queries I'm happy to try and help.

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Woow Andy,

This is exactly what I am looking for, really great and many thanks !
I will check my own findings to see whether I miss any other recon missions. If so, I might ask you again but let me look first.

(love to know one time where you have found your most helpful information )

A very grateful greeting from Venlo

Marcel

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Marcel Hogenhuis

(love to know one time where you have found your most helpful information )

From more years than I care to mention researching RAF photo recce ops and aircrew.