Avro Anson - Question

[en830]

Were Anson's still being used on operations in Mid 1943 or had they been relegated to just a training role by this time ?

Also were Anson's ever used for parachute training, in particular from Woodvale in 1954 ?

In our local paper last night there was an account of an Anson being shot down over Jersey in mid 1943, two of the crew being rescued. I'm pretty sure that the author is mistaken as I can find only one Anson being lost in or around the Channel Islands and that was earlier in 1940.

Thanks

[Larry]

I just had a look at Aircraft of the RAF since 1918 by Owen Thetford (Putnam 1988) and it said Ansons were steadily replaced by later types such as the Hudson and Whitley throughout 1940 but a few remained with Coastal Command until as late as 1942.

The other option is a loss of an Anson on a training flight - perhaps the trainee was flying the exact opposite course he should have followed; it did happen! However this is rather clutching at straws!

So I suspect your aircraft may have been another type or the loss was earlier in WW2

[en830]

Thanks Larry

I think the chap is getting his dates and facts confused, in all the written accounts of the German Occupation there is no mention of an RAF type coming down in the area he has pin pointed, there is an account of a P38 in early 1945 and it maybe this that he is mixing up with other incidents.

I'm not going to contradict him, did it once before and got into a bun fight with the person concerned, sometimes it's better to leave them to their own memories.

[Delmenhorst]

Ansons were used operationally as late as 1945. An example:

12 Mar 1945 A/U Patrol
Anson H/1693 F/O Hawkins and F/O Halbretter carrying 2 x 250 DC's and no Radar was ordered to take off at 0630 and was iarborne at 0625, landing at 1015. On patrol at 0645 in posn 5925N 0132W and carried out CLA patrol, legs 6 miles vis 3 miles in area 5925'N 0132'W xxxxxx.xxx..xxx.
At 0752 in posn 5918N 0149W sighted rusty horned mine. Off patrol at 1003 at Fair Isle. Nothing to report. Average height 800 feet.

[dp_burke]

What unit was flying that mission above Delmenhorst? Was it a first line squadron or a training unit?

[Col Bruggy]

As indicated; A/c "H". No.1693 (G.R.) Flight.

Col.