Capt. Kershaw's Hurricane Mk.I code letter

[Dominik]

Good morning

I have a question about a code letter of the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I Trop used by Capt. Kershaw in the action when he rescued Maj. Jack Frost. According to every info I have found so far on the Internet the letter is "J", but there are two photos which may suggest that that plane was actually wearing "U". The famous photo of the two pilots standing by the plane "U" might suggest that that was THE plane used during the action.
I did try to find unit's ORB in the NA Kew, but without any success.

I will be very grateful for help.

Regards

Dominik

[Alex Smart]

Hello Dominik,
This site gives the answer I believe.
Photo sure looks like it was "U".

http://saafww2pilots.yolasite.com/bob-kershaw.php

Also Frost was shot down by ground fire on 15/03/41 in SAAF Hurricane "280" "W", ref "85 years of SAAF".
While Lt. RHC, Kershaw is noted as force landed on 20/11/41 with 1 Sqn SAAF.

Photo of "W", "280" on page 126 ofChris Shores " Dust Clouds in the Middle East".

AHotMEAW vol 1, page 319 has -
20/11/41
1SAAF Sqn
Hurricane II - Shot down by flak; 2Lt. H. P. Currin - POW.
Hurricane II - Damaged, force-landed at base; Lt. R.H.C.Kershaw safe.

It may also be helpful to find details of Currin's Hurricane ?
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Based on Michael Schoeman's work, Springbok Fighter Victory SAAF Fighter Victory SAAF Fighter Operations 1939-1945 - Volume 1 - East Africa - 1940 - 1941 (p.140):

15th March, 1941

3 Sqdn: Hurricane I: raid on Diredawa: t/o 10h45.

280: W - Capt. JE Frost s/d one CR32.
287: S - Capt. SvB Theron s/d one CR3.
293: U - Lt. DR Clyde Morley ) shared one CR32 s/d
.....: ? - Lt. AS Venter)

Diredawa Main strafed by Frost (one Savoia destr & one damaged, and one CR or Ro37 damaged). Theron (one Savoia destr). Morley and Venter (shared one Caproni or Savoia damaged). Diredawa satellite strafed by Theron (one CR or Ro37 destr). Capt. NC Harvey (one CR or RO destr). & three CR or Ro types damaged by all six pilots.

3 Sqdn: Hurricane I: raid on Diredawa: t/o 15h40/45.

294: X - Capt. NC Harvey s/d KIA by ground fire: crashed on Diredawa airfield.
280: W - Capt. NE Frost damaged one CR or Ro37 on the ground then s/d by ground fire & f/landed on Diredawa satellite: see next entry.
284: J - Lt. RH Kershaw landed under fire & rescued Capt. JE Frost.
287: S - Capt. SvB Theron destr two Savoias on ground.
293: U - Lt. DR Clyde Morley damaged one Savoia on the ground.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Col,
Thanks for the above post.
It would seem that Frost and Kershaw were photographed in front of a/c "U" , 293 and not as the caption implies " the a/c involved in the rescue", which was "J", 284.

FYI,
Some SAAF serial tie ups.
271 - L1708.
272 - L1710.
273 - L1711.
274 - L1874.
275 - L1875.
276 - L1876.
277 - L1909 "Q".
278 - ?
279 - ?
280 - ?, "W".
281 - ?
282 - ?
283 - ?
284 - ?, "J".
285 - ?
286 - ?
287 - V7280, "S".
288 - ?
289 - P3253, "A".
290 - V7281, "B"..
291 - P3257.
292 - ?
293 - P3262, " U".
294 - P3252, "X".
295 - P8817.
296 - R4104.


Alex