Crashed Spitfire photo identification No.611 Sqd

[Melvin Brownless]

Hi to all,

Can anyone identitify this No.611 Sqd Spitfire loss in France, believed to be around 1941/42. The aircraft code letters are B-FY and on the cowling is painted "Paddy IV". Does anyone know the name of the pilot? Any help greatly appreciated.

Regards

Melvin

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/

[Leendert]

Melvin,

There were two Spitfires with FY-B that were shot down within a relative short timespan.
These were EN133, lost on 14 March 43, W/Cdr J.H. Slater killed (Rodeo 188 to Abbeville airfield) and EN562, lost on 30 May 43, Lt. R.T. Tradin killed (Ramrod 81 to Mondeville rail-yards).
In both instances the Spitfires were engaged by Fw-190s.

I have no idea if one of these aircraft had "Paddy IV" as its name.

Regards,

Leendert

[Fairlop]

Hi Melvin,

1) You are right it should be 1941/42 period. See A1 roundel on the fuselage what was valid till 21 May 1942.
2) The killed airman inside the cockpit looks like an officer. There is no visible Sgt or W/O chevron.
3) The leaves seems to be hale, so I think it could be summer or early autumn.

The sign on the cowling is a personal one. Unfortunately not a dedication and there is no possibility to identify a/c from a list of presentation Spitfires.
I was asked a few years ago by my & your French friend Laurent for a identification of this Spitfire. The possibility of F/O Dexter´s a/c is excluded ?
At any rate it should be a/c what was downed in Boulogne s/M area because of the source of picture.

Regards,
Michal

[Amrit1]

What's interesting about the picture is the fact that the code seems to be the wrong way around. Though not indicative of anything specific, all the pictures of 611 I've seen have the squadron code before the roundel and the aircraft after. There is even a picture of a "FY-B" in Hunt's Twenty-One Squadrons, and it is in that order (and yes, I have checked that it is the correct side of the aircraft).


Could this be indicative of anything?

[Fairlop]

What's interesting about the picture is the fact that the code seems to be the wrong way around. Though not indicative of anything specific, all the pictures of 611 I've seen have the squadron code before the roundel and the aircraft after.

Altogether it was standard on the 611 Sqn Mark Vs in second half of 1941 year. This kind of code letter sequence you can see from time to time on a/c of other Sqn too.

Michal

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Photo is very sad to see.

However, the tail band also places the a/c crash after November 40.

So as to the camoflage, can it be said to be the Dark Green and Ocean Grey or the earlier Dark Green and Dark Earth colours ?

Quote from "Camoflage & Markings" text to profile of FY-B EN133
"Standard day fighter scheme from mid May 1942. Type C and C.1 roundels, 24 inch square standard fin flash. Sky spinner, 18 inch fuselage band, code and aircraft letters. Introduced on production lines from 21st May 1942. Ocean Grey and Dark Green, most commonly used".

I have no idea as to where these "Fatal" came down, someone else can come up with the crash place perhaps.
Mk. IX unless otherwise noted.
From the "Dieppe Raid" F/Sgt. Vilboux (Free French) in BS179.
Sept 16th 42, Sgt Walker in BS170.
November 2nd 42, F/O. Fulford DFC in BR622.
November 2nd 42, Sgt. Keens in BS113.
November 29th 42, F/O. Helmore in BS112.
February 5th 43, S/Ldr. Armstrong DFC in BS425.
March 14th 43, S/Ldr Slater AFC in EN133 "B". [was a presentation a/c]
March 14th 43, Sgt. McLay RAAF in BS510.
April 18th 43, P/O. North in EN571.
May 14th 43, Sgt. Clark in EN558.
May 30th 43, Lt. Tradin (Norwegian) "B" in EN562.
June 11th 43, F/O. Lindsay in EN570 "J".
August 23rd 43, S/Ldr. Davies in EP393 a Mk. Vb.
August 23rd 43, P/O. Gielstrup (Danish) in P8545 a Mk.Vb.[was a presentation a/c].
November 9th 43, F/Sgt. J. C. Bevan in EE732 a Mk.Vc.
ref is FCL vol 2
Alex

[Mikkel Plannthin]

P/O Gielstrup shot down by flak of Den Helder, cf.
http://www.danishww2pilots.dk/profil...?alpha=g&id=28

Mikkel Plannthin

[Fairlop]

Hi Mikkel,

The Paddy IV is not P/O Gielstrup´s a/c. He was s/d in second half of 1943 what is in discrepance with the A1 roundel on fuselage, and he crashed into the sea.

Regards,
Michal

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Michal,
I know. Just wanted to supply info in the man, as Alex included him in the list.

Mikkel

[Alex Smart]

Hello Millel,

Yes I understand and that clears him from the pilot in the photo.
Thank you for the link too.

Question to Michal,

Can we be certain that Spitfire Mk IX's did not carry the roundel shown in the photo ?
If they did not then it only leaves either Bevan and Davies.

Alex