91 Sqn Spitfire XIVs - code letters

[Brian]

Hi guys

I'm endeavouring, without much success, to tie serial numbers to aircraft individual letters. Any help will be appreciated.

NH654, 697, 698, 701, 703, 705, 707, 720

RB165, 169, 173, 174, 177, 180, 181, 182, 183, 185, 188

RM615, 620, 621, 624, 649, 651, 652, 653, 654, 656, 680, 682, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 694, 726, 734, 735, 743

Fingers crossed!]

Cheers
Brian

[Fairlop]

Hi Brian,

RB174 ... DL-T
RB180 ... DL-E

Peter Hall has in the book No.91 Nigeria Squadron profiles with these combinations:
NH698 ... DL-F, it should be F/O Collier´s kit when he wing tipped the Diver for first time. When I was writing an article I didn´t note that letter somewhere.
RB169 ... DL-Q
RB188 ... DL-K
RM656 ... DL-F
There was another one XVI with the 91 Sqn. It was NH714, RWO used by W/C Oxpring.

Regards,
Michal

[Brian]

Thanks Michal for your quick response - very much appreciated.

That's a start ...................

Cheers
Brian

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Michal,

Just read Brian's call for individual letters of 91 Sqdn. Perhaps you're able to check the letters of Spits F.21 LA203 and LA229 too?
Both were lost during a recce near Den Helder on 10th April 1945. I've checked the ORB in The National Archives, but unfortunately no individual letters are mentioned.

Thanks in advance,
Hans Nauta

[Fairlop]

Hi Hans,

There is a little confusion which Mk 21s were s/d near Den Helder (BTW is still there a Russian submarine docked there ?). I do not have copies of the 91 Sqn ORB for Spring 1945 so I believe your s/n LA203 and LA229 are from Kew. They correspond to Franks´ FCL but Hall mentions LA229 and LA234. LA203 was destroyed by F/L Elcock on 14th May. It is confirmed by Morgan & Shacklady´s Spitfire the History. This source has LA234 (correctly) s/d over Fresian Isles, but on 11th March ...
One of Hall´s profiles is LA234, and with letters DL-V.

Regards from cloudy Czech republic,
Michal

[Brian]

Hi Michal and anyone else interested

I have just established that NH701 was DL-A

Cheers
Brian

PS: Michal - do you have 91 Squadron's Form 541s for March-July 1944? I have a copy of Paddy Schade's logbook for that period, in which he entered aircraft letter only, so we should be able to match these against serial numbers of aircraft he flew on specific dates. If you haven't got these, it will mean yet another trip to Kew!!

Cheers Brian

[Fairlop]

Hi Brian,

Interesting !
I have the ORB only for a period 19/06 - 28/07/1944, and later when the 91 Sqn flew Mk IXs. If you want I can send you the copies. I found these Griffon Spits used by F/O Schade DFM.

NH720 ... 19/6 2x, 21/6
RM620 ... 22/6, 24/6 2x, 27/6, 28/6 2x
RB161 ... 22/6
RB177 ... 23/6
RB182 ... 25/6

There are known another s/n in which he s/d V-1s too.
RB180 ... 17/6
NH701 ... 1/7
RM656 ... 16/7

Regards,
Michal

[Brian]

Great stuff, Michal

This is what I can now reveal:

NH720/DL-H
RM620/DL-E
RB161/DL-I
RB177/DL-J
RB182/DL-V

What aircraft did Schade fly on 1/7/44, 15/7/44, and 23-27/7/44?

Also, what was Costello's serial number on 8/7/44 - he was flying DL-P


Cheers
Brian

[Hans Nauta]

Dear Michal,

Thanks for your effort. It brought up some other point regarding serial LA203/LA234 which I wasn't aware of!

Best regards,
Hans Nauta

[Fairlop]

I add these code letters in database !

Michal