PR Spitfires to Russia September 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

As I understand it, at least three (or perhaps five) Spitfire PR IVs from 3PRU were sent to Russia as part of Operation Orator, the first two arriving on 1 September 1942.

I believe these were flown by F/Lt E.A. Fairhurst, F/O ?? Furniss, and P/O Gavin Walker, and were BP884, BP889, BP891.

BP889 with P/O Walker on board was apparently shot down by Gfr Kurt Dobner of II/JG5 and crashed near Lakselv in Northen Norway on 23 September.

I believe the Spitfires flew a total of 12 sorties before the detachment ended, and the remaining aircraft handed over to 118-ORAP for Russian use, but one source suggests these were AP132, BP891, and BP923. What happened to BP884, and when did the others arrive?

Any help appreciated. Incidentally, is there an ORB for 3 PRU's Russian Detachment?

Cheers
Brian

[Col Bruggy]

Brian,

F/O ?? Furniss = 89326 Donald Raymond Munro FURNISS RAFVR(Later DSO, DFC)

114418 F/O Gavin William WALKER RAFVR, was killed on 27 September, 1942, not the 23rd., and "reportedly", under different circumstances to your account!

However, P/O Walker's luck tragically ran out on a sortie over Altenfjord on 27 September (1942), when his aircraft was brought down by rifle fire after he had been forced to descend to low level on account of the low cloud which often hung over the area . This was the only casualty suffered by Fairhurst's unit.

See:
Above All Unseen:The Royal Air Force's Photographic Reconnaissance Units 1939-1945.
Leaf,Edward.
Sparkford:Patrick Stevens Ltd.,1997.
p.74

I have the following "Orator" Spitfires: AB132, BP888, BP891 & BP923 (open to debate!).

1 September 1942 - RAF Station, Benson.

Russian Detachment.
At the beginning of September (1942), three Spitfires proceeded to Russia to carry out operations from a base there.

Russian Detachment Personnel.

Squadron Leader Wager to be Commanding Officer (possibly: 84386 S/L Lawrence Rickard WAGER RAFVR (later MiD).

Pilots:
Flight Lieutenant Fairhurst
Flying Officer Furniss
Pilot Officer Walker
Sergeant Hardman

Ground Staff.
Sergeant Greenwood
Corporal Beer
Corporal Ashton
Leading Aircraftman Cochrane
Aircraftman Taylor.

1 September 1942 - No.1 PRU Russian Detachment.

Three Spitfires left Sumburgh and arrived Afrikanda.

2 September 1942.

Three Spitfires arrived at Vaenga.

9 September 1942

One Spitfire U/S from bomb splinters after enemy attack.

19 September 1942

Sergeant Hardman arrived in PRU Spitfire at Vaenga after taking photographs of the Swedish/Finnish border on the way.

27 September 1942

Pilot Officer G W Walker reported missing from sorties ARC14 and ARC15.

See:
RAF Benson:A Diary of Wartime Losses.
Ottaway,Reginald H.
Andover:Speedman Press Ltd.,2010
pp.50-51

Col.

[Brian]

Hi Col

Many thanks once again.

Your contribution has enlightened me!!

I wonder if Sgt Hardman was Donald Francis Ignatius Hardman RNZVR who was killed in 1943 with 540 Squadron? Just a thought.

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

I met Fairhurst a few years ago. He was very unassuming & all of his material was up in the attic. I wonder what became of it?

[Col Bruggy]

Brian,

Re: Sgt Hardman.

Wed 3 Mar 1943
COASTAL COMMAND
Transit from Gibraltar to Portreath, Cornwall.

540 Squadron. RAF (Leuchars, Fifeshire:detatchment at Gibraltar and Benson, Oxfordshire - 16 Group)

Mosquito PR.IV DK315 - lost without trace , the two crew* being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Pilot: NZ411888 Fg Off Donald Francis Ignatius HARDMAN, RNZAF - Age 26, 435hrs. 29th op.

Interestingly, four of Hardman's ops were undertaken with a detatchment of 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit while it was briefly based in Northern Russia during late 1942.

See:
For Your Tomorrow:A Record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 - Volume Two: 1943-1998,
Martyn,Errol W.
Christchurch:Volplane Press,1999.
p.70

* F/O Hardman's navigator was: 637524 Sgt Bernard Herbert CRUIKSHANK RAF.

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Brian,
It's good to see answers to your question.
Some time ago I asked similar question about the RAF in Russia, only had a couple of repies.
This is quite detailed in comparison,.
I'm glad you put the question, thanks.
Alex

[Nick Hector]

Hi Brian, Col et al

Don't know if this helps (because a couple of them had flown from the UK rather than from the Soviets), but just in case it does....

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/lakselv.html

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/hammervatnet.html

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/vaddasgaisa.html

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/maddevarri.html

Nick

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Brian

I wonder if Sgt Hardman was Donald Francis Ignatius Hardman RNZVR who was killed in 1943 with 540 Squadron? Just a thought.

Hi Brian,

Yes, it's the same individual.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Edit: Sorry didn't see Col's post above already confirming Hardman's identity.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Brian,

The 1 PRU (not 3 PRU) detachment flew a total of 19 sorties during Orator. The 1 PRU ORB is rather vague and doesn't provide the usual details (times, serials etc).

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Juha]

Hello Brian
here is what Air 41/7 at Kew has on it (Photographic Reconnaissance Volume II (The First Draft) p. 102. See the attachment.



Hello Andy

Not very surprising, when a Det. from the 542 Sqn operated from Vaenga in March-April 1944 the ORB only mentioned that it operated from “Secret Destination” until on 1 July it was mentioned that the Det. had returned.