Hurricane R4210

[Peter Cook]

The 601 Squadron ORB Form 541 has 27 entries for Hurricane R4210 during August 1940, flown by five pilots, with F/L M.L. Robinson listed for 17 sorties. However, the volume of Air-Britain's RAF Aircraft that lists the serials numbers for P1000-R9999 has no Hurricane serials between R4200 and R4213. Can anyone tell me if R4210 is a legitimate serial number?

[Martin Gleeson]

Hello Peter,

That is an interesting case, but I think it can be explained. R4210 was in a 'Blackout Block' and so never built.
I believe it should be R4120. This was Taken On Charge by 601 Squadron on 18-8-1940 and first appears in their F.541 on the 19th (twice, both times flown by F/O Davis). After that it does not appear again during August 1940, not even once. But R4210 does, immediately after the R4120 entries and flown on the first two occasions by F/O Davis. I make it 31 entries for 'R4210' in all for August 1940, all of which should be for R4120.

There is a very similar case for R4214 on August 26th and 27th where it is twice mis-reported as 'R4124' . The same pilot for both versions of the serial and both versions on the same page !

Regards,

Martin.

[Peter Cook]

Thanks Martin, your deductions are in line with my own thinking on this, so thank you for confirming!

Peter

[Chris Goss]

Don't forget also (an apparently not in this case) for future reference some F540 writers used the ac individual code and numerals from the serial. Some F540 writers were appalling-look at RAF Akrotiri for the Turkish invasion "We noticed an increase in air activity" was the basis of what was written!