610 Sqn 26 Aug 40

[Chris Goss]

610 lost P9496 and R6595 in combat plus R6970 suffered Cat 2 in combat. According to Norman Franks, an unidentified Spitfire coded M crashed and burned out it addition to P9496 & R6595-is he getting mixed up and who was the pilot of this third Spitfire?

[rafcommands]

Hi Chris,

From the ORB

M was K9947 Sgt P Else baled out over Hawkinge.

Regards
Ross

[Chris Goss]

Ross: Spitfire production summary has this as damaged in combat 14 Aug 40 and surviving well past 26 Aug???

[rafcommands]

It's what is given in the ORB.

Looking back over the month it consistently lists M as K9947 and omits to give serials for X and Y.

From 26th M K9947 does not appear in the daily activity reports.

Generally the scribe for No.610 during this period tallies well with loss and log book info.

So until Form 78 is checked I would plump for the ORB as possible and give the Production list data as a query to be confirmed.

Regards
Ross

[Chris Goss]

A check of Bowman's Aircraft for the Few shows K9947 as M and with the Sqn from 30 Aug to 23 Sep 40?? Presume he got this from the F78?? A Puzzle indeed!

[rafcommands]

Looking at the entry for 14th Aug in the ORB

M K9947 is listed as flown by Sgt F G Gardner.

The description records that "Sgt Gardner forced landed at Wye after causing a He 113 to crash in channel"

So the scribe has the forced landing correct if not the e/a type!.

However comparing accounts for the action of 26th throws up a few grimaces!

The aircraft listed as flying as flying are:
W - R6993
N - N3124
X F/O Wilson
M - K9947 Sgt Else
O - X4011 P/O Webster
T - X4064
B - X4166
F - X4028
A - R6976
Q - R6891
Y

ie no list of P9496, R6595 or R6970 despite only 2 aircraft letters not being linked to serials.

In the narrative the losses given are Sgt Else and Sgt Webster suggesting M and O.

So no correlation with Franks et al and the Spitfire Production list suggests X4011 flying until 5/11/40 not lost on 26th as ORB scribe suggests.

One for a lot more inspection I think.

Regards
Ross