Albacore at Agnone, Sicily

[BruceMk11]

An Albacore of 820 Sqn in late 1942, BF759/4L

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205123834

When did 820 Squadron's codes change?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Bruce

I doubt this photo has anything to do with either 820Sq or the North African landings.
It has been reported as being with 832Sq in late 1941

It is difficult to say precisely when 820Sq changed code prefix from 4 to 5 but I don't think they used the 4 prefix for very long.
By late 1941 they surely had switched to the 5 prefix?

Cheers
Stig

[BruceMk11]

Agreed Stig, not the North African landings given the markings. But where is it reported as an a/c of 832 Sqn?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by BruceMk11

Agreed Stig, not the North African landings given the markings. But where is it reported as an a/c of 832 Sqn?

Sorry Bruce

I have made no note of that....

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

"Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945" has only -
BF759
Deld Worthy Down SS 27.9.42; '4L' once[in ME?].

WARPAINT No.52 has several colour profiles of Albacore's coded "4L", all have different Squadron's and serial numbers. But to please you , on the back page is a colour picture of BF759 in flight.

The Crowood book 'Fairey Swordfish and Albacore ' gives details of Squadron movements and actions.
Alex

[Doug Norrie]

Hi Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your input. Since that, I have done some further investigation into the aircraft.

I was able to find the same photo on the web (see below). From my original photo I was able to scan it and blow the photo up, and can make out three of the last four numbers of the serial 'x923x' under 'Royal Navy'.
Also there appears to be an 'S' before the '4Z'.

The location is Sicily, August-September 1943

My possible guess would be:

Fairey Albacore I, X9230 'S4Z' of 826 Sqn FAA August 1943

Source: 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-45' Air Britain by Sturtivant and Burrow. Pages 135,140.
There appears to be a typo for serial X8380 'S4K' of 826 Sqn' on page 135.

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gall...albacore-1942/

Doug

[Alex Smart]

Hello Doug,
The photo of S4Z (?) that you gave in the link in post 16 above is perhaps the same Albacore that is in the photo on page 135 of Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945. But the one in the link has later roundel and fin markings than the one on page 135 which has earlier markings, plus I could almost certainly say that the one on page 135 has the serial number X8980, the comment below says it is X8380 (X8380 was one of 150 cancelled Halifax's X8335 - X8384) the S4K is hard to see as it is dark lettering.
Comment on page 137 of Fleet Air Air Aircraft 1939 to 1945 has -
X8980 - Deld 82 MU 7.9.41; Shipped Newport to Alexandria in SS.Silver Willow 24.9.41; 826 Sqn( 4F:S4K)2.42-6.42.

Additional -
The Squadron's of the Fleet Air Arm, (Sturtivant & Ballance) has on page 221 two photos supposedly of the same Aircraft Albacore 4F of 826 Squadron but serial number is given as N4319.
On page 223 Identification markings Albacore L4A + initially, then 4A+, later S4A+. On the same page Aircraft Equipment, Albacore 1 - March 1940 - August 1943, example N4319(4F).

The later 'The Squadron's and Units of the Fleet Air Arm ' (Ballance,Howard & Sturtivant) has the same details pages 181 - 186.
Maybe relevant but picture of a damaged Albacore in the UK date given as 23 June 1940 shows Aircraft L7093 4K, but the 4K is painted on the red/white/blue fin markings, not on the fuselage side.

All the best,
Alex