103 MU at Aboukir

[Aussie7]

Guys, it is good to see that there is quite a bit of interest in the High Altitude Flight. My interest started when researching the activities of 451 Sqn RAAF, which like most defensive Hurricane sqn had on strength 3 or 4 Spit V's during 1943 to combat German recon a/c. On several occasions the Spitfires and pilots were detached to other units such as 103 MU and 127 Sqn.

Brian, I have found much the same claims as you except:
1. P/O Wilson's claim was on 26 Jul 42 (Aces High - AH), although this seems a little odd as I thought the Flt only had 3 pilots in 1942 - F/O Reynolds, P/O Genders & P/O Gold.
2. 1 Ju88 dam on 15 Jun 43 by F/L Cooper-Slipper (AH).
3. The 16 Sep 43 claim was by F/O McQueen RAAF (Those Other Eagles - TOE).
4. 1 Me109 dam on 13 Aug 43 and 1 Me109 conf on 24 Aug 43 by S/L JG West RNZAF (TOE).
5. F/O HV Freckleton RAAF with P/O AF Arnel RAAF (attch fron 451 Sqn) as his No2 claimed a Ju86 conf on 4 Jul 43 (info from several Aussie books/diaries and NAA). However is it possible that this the E/A shared with 80 Sqn on 2 Jul 43 ?

JohnE, the 451 Sqn ORB is insistant that although F/O Purdy's claim occured whilst he was attached to 103 MU it was credited to his parent Sqn.

Ian (Adelaide)

[John Beaman]

Pages 135 and 136 of Shores' Fighters Over The Desert talks about this flight and the modifications they made to both Hurricane 2Bs and Spitfire Vs of 80 and 1 SAAF Squadrons as Stefaan mentions.

Stefaan, I do not have your book. Does the photo show the 4-bladed prop and 2 x .50 cal MGs?

[phasselgren]

Originally Posted by Aussie7

Guys, it is good to see that there is quite a bit of interest in the High Altitude Flight. My interest started when researching the activities of 451 Sqn RAAF, which like most defensive Hurricane sqn had on strength 3 or 4 Spit V's during 1943 to combat German recon a/c. On several occasions the Spitfires and pilots were detached to other units such as 103 MU and 127 Sqn.

Brian, I have found much the same claims as you except:
1. P/O Wilson's claim was on 26 Jul 42 (Aces High - AH), although this seems a little odd as I thought the Flt only had 3 pilots in 1942 - F/O Reynolds, P/O Genders & P/O Gold.
2. 1 Ju88 dam on 15 Jun 43 by F/L Cooper-Slipper (AH).
3. The 16 Sep 43 claim was by F/O McQueen RAAF (Those Other Eagles - TOE).
4. 1 Me109 dam on 13 Aug 43 and 1 Me109 conf on 24 Aug 43 by S/L JG West RNZAF (TOE).
5. F/O HV Freckleton RAAF with P/O AF Arnel RAAF (attch fron 451 Sqn) as his No2 claimed a Ju86 conf on 4 Jul 43 (info from several Aussie books/diaries and NAA). However is it possible that this the E/A shared with 80 Sqn on 2 Jul 43 ?

JohnE, the 451 Sqn ORB is insistant that although F/O Purdy's claim occured whilst he was attached to 103 MU it was credited to his parent Sqn.

Ian (Adelaide)

Hi Ian,

A late comment. I just read about Montague James Rowland in Errol Martyn´s book For Your Tomorrow, Vol Three. He served in the High Altitude Flight from from 23 Aug 42 to 30 Nov 42 when he joined the Detached Flight (C Flight) of 94 Sqn.

Cheers
Peter Hasselgren

[Franek Grabowski]

103 MU as well as some other MUs were responsible for quite advanced modifications. It was the Mu which introduced Aboukir Filters and clipped wings in the area, for example. Spitfires for the Flight were highly modified to increase their altitude performance.
They obviously required skilled groundcrew and experienced pilots, who were of short supply in operational Squadrons. Therefore it was likely much more easier logistically to attach MU crew rather than to send extra people to a particular Squadron.

[Frank Olynyk]

The claims of 103 MU can be found in the Aboukir Station ORB, Air 28/9. This ORB may have further information on why an MU was involved in combat operations. I do not have a copy so I cannot check.

Frank.

[stefaan]

Hi.
During my research for SAAF at War I spoke to a number of pilots that knew of these modified Spits.
They stated that it was a flight from some unit that seconded these Spitfires to sqdns that needed them to get rid of high altitude Ju's that did recces over certain areas.That Sqdn would then get sent these Spits untill the Ju's were shot down, or stopped the recce runs.
on we have fount 2 Spits that cropped up in War Diaries of 1,41,9 SAAT Sqdns.
Serials MH993 and MA792.
A photo of MH993 is on page 47. These ones with 41 sqdn were based at St Jean de Acra.
A pilot from 9 SAAF sqdn said he flew it as well, but I am waiting to get his logbook to get the serials.
Hope it helps
Stefaan

[Brian]

Hi Frank

Thanks for the NA reference - will check it out during my next visit.

Trust you are well.
Cheers
Brian

[CJE]

Hi gents,

Sorry to dig up the deads, but I came across this thread by... Google.
How many "special" Spits were modified by 103 MU ?
We know BR202, which was lost after an engine failure on 6 September 1942. It was replaced by BR114.
But Brian wrote that on two occasions an interception was made by TWO Spits of 103 MU which leads me to believe there was a third machine.
Does anyone know anything about it?

Thanks.

Chris

[Birgir Thorisson]

According to Kenneth "Bing" Cross, officer commanding 219 group, the unit charged with air defence of Egypt, it was his operation, and carried out by test pilots at Abukir, using progressively modified Spitfires. Cross had very high opinion of the MU 103, they even improved the Merlin engine for the project!!!
It is noteworthy that Cross himself was an ex-test pilot there. That is to say, a year peviously, when 219 group was 252 wing, with himself in command, he kept himself in flying practice by "moonligthing" as a test pilot at Abukir.

Birgir Thorisson

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Guys

Looks like the further away from Britain the action was, the more important the actual MUs became. They might even warrant the epitath Modification Units...

Also looks like 103 MU in Egypt was a big one, perhaps the biggest in the ME? As such it was perhaps not unusual for it to have a far better tool park than most other designated units.

Finally one last question (well repeat really), was there any other MU forming special combat units like this and claiming victories? I have never come across any from the Home Country, but perhaps there were some more in the ME and/or FE??

Cheers
Stig