e bay boston serial can anyone make it out ?

[brewerjerry]

Hi
I missed out on this boston photo on e bay,
but won the other view of the boston

can anyone work put the serial or have info on the crash ?

to me looks like it could be a 418 Sqn a/c coded TH-

and after july 1942 due to roundel ?

serial Z22??

cheers
jerry

[kaki3152]

Looking at this link:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase...php?AcType=A20
I come up with two possibilities:

4/12/42 - Douglas DB-7B Boston Mk III Z2210 418 (City of Edmonton) Sqn RCAF 0 Klundert - Fijnaart, on the road w/o

4/28/42 - Douglas DB-7B Boston Mk III Z2240 418 (City of Edmonton) Sqn RCAF 2 5 km se of Noordschans. w/o

I think it's the second one because of the amount of destruction and the fact that of the three man crew , two were KIA. As you probably know, 418 PCAF were low level intruders leaving a crew with little chance of parachuting due to their low level attacks.

[brewerjerry]

Hi
thanks for the reply but the dates would be too early, the type 'C' roundel makes it later than those two april losses
cheers
jerry

[kaki3152]

Well, there are four Boston III 418 RCAF losses in FCLII 1942-1943, that have no serial numbers recorded. It must be one of these as the other 418 RCAF casualties have a recorded serial number. I would agree it"s probably a 418 RCAF Boston III, because of the Intruder finish and the visible "T"

1. Boston III lost June-18-42- 3 crew KIA
2. Boston III lost February 13-1943 - 2 crew KIA, 1 POW
3. Boston III lost June -23-1943 3 crew KIA
4 Boston III -December 5 1942 - 3 crew KIA

[brewerjerry]

Hi
thanks for the info, i must check the 418 orb for the dates
cheers
jerry

[Stig Jarlevik]

Jerry

While I agree that we have a serial starting with Z22 I would still be cautious with the assumption this was an aircraft with 418 RCAF.

Found two photos of Bostons with them and both show the squadron code letters placed forward of the roundel and the individual code letters on the nose.

Since the British roundel was placed quite far to the aft of the aircraft, I think most units preferred to place the unit code letters in a forward position. I am not saying there were no exceptions, but perhaps widening your research to a unit which possibly placed the individual code letter behind the roundel would be beneficial? It seems to have been rather unusual.

Cheers
Stig

[udf_00]

http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/09949.php
Z2207 - Failed to return from sortie, 5 December 1942.

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Thanks that looks like a good option
cheers
jerry

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Jerry

While I agree that we have a serial starting with Z22 I would still be cautious with the assumption this was an aircraft with 418 RCAF.

Found two photos of Bostons with them and both show the squadron code letters placed forward of the roundel and the individual code letters on the nose.

Since the British roundel was placed quite far to the aft of the aircraft, I think most units preferred to place the unit code letters in a forward position. I am not saying there were no exceptions, but perhaps widening your research to a unit which possibly placed the individual code letter behind the roundel would be beneficial? It seems to have been rather unusual.

Cheers
Stig

Hi
From the photo to me there doesnt seem space for a letter/s between the roundel and the fin
Thus the first letter forward of the roundel ( a letter T ) made me think of TH and 418 Sqn
I checked a sq code site and it seems 418 Sqn is the most likely boston intruder sqn

but i will do somemore research
cheers
jerry