Spitfire MkIA from 610th Sqn. RAF

[Lucass]

Who could be a pilot of Spitfire Mk.Ia DW-O with serial L1043 that was used by 610th Sqn. RAF during the period of July of 1940 ??

[Alex Smart]

L1043 Ia 258 EA MIII
FF 3-7-39
19MU 7-7-39
610S 'DW-O' 6-12-39
266S 18-6-40
7OTU 9-9-40
57OTU FAC2 24-9-40 Hit tree on approach Hawarden 12-8-41
SOC 18-8-41

[Alex Smart]

"Aces High" has Ellis, 610 Sqn - 24th July '40 - claim for an e/a in a/c "O", serial number R6595.
So what became of "O", L1043 at this time ? Was she still "O" or did she carry another a/c in Sqdn letter ?

[Lucass]

That there were two "DW-O" Spitfires with different serials at the same time??

[Stig Jarlevik]

Alex

As per your own table, L1043 was with 266 Sq on 24.7.1940 when R6595 was DW-O with 610 Sq.
So if your table is correct then L1043 cannot have been with 610 Sq in July as per Lucass original request.

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,
Well spotted, I overlooked the date disconnect.

However there is also a ? on R6595, see the Spitfire database production list, there is no mention of 610 Sqn.

"R6595 Ia 679 EA MIII FF 7-5-40 8MU 9-5-40 PDU 28-5-40 VAEA 4-6-40 PDU 28-7-40 Damaged by Bf109 over Folkestone and crashed on approach Hawkinge 26-8-40".

Also it is not listed in the 610 Squadron list either ?

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Well Alex

Most of my sources have R6595 assigned to 610 Sq (Halley/Air Britain R1000-R9999 booklet and Franks RAF Fighter Command Losses).

One source which does not is Morgan/Shacklady Spitfire The History.
As far as I understand the internet Spitfire site is mostly a copy of their book, probably also updated with the second version of said book (I only have the first)

In the past I have found that Morgan/Shacklady differs from Halley at some points, possibly because the record cards are hard to read. I also find both the Spitfire site and Spitfire the History hard to read due to the enourmous amount of short forms/abbreviations.

BTW what is actually VAEA (Morgan/Shacklady says VEA in their book)??
No explanation in the book, since only VA is listed and stands for Vickers-Armstrong.

Sorry to say I don't know what you mean with 610 Sq list, so I cannot comment that....

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig,


, if I remember correctly ( other will correct me I'm sure if I am wrong)

PDU
Photographic Development Unit.

VAEA

Vickers Armstrong Eastleigh Airadrome.

Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Alex

Yes PDU is a well known abbreviation.

Thanks also for the added info regarding what EA stands for. I suspected it could be something added to Vickers Armstrong, but had nothing to show for my thoughts...

Well, since I don't believe Jim Halley took 610 Sq out of a Top Hat I am still rather convinced 610 Sq used the aircraft. Perhaps it was so new and lost almost immediately after delivery, that the ORB never recorded it?

Cheers
Stig

[Crimea River]

I have P/O Frank Kinnersley Webster involved in the crash of R6595.

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/WebsterFK.htm