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  #1  
Old 14th August 2016, 20:56
andy bird andy bird is offline
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Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

On 20 Nov 1942, the North Coates Wing on their first strike were meant to pick up a Spitfire escort over the RV point which was Ludham. I'm guessing the Spitfires were from RAF Coltishall ?

Yet having downloaded 234 and 64 Squadrons ORBs for this date. They both have "Non Operational" for 20Nov42 ?

Could anyone help me out ?

Regards
Andy B
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Old 14th August 2016, 22:26
phasselgren phasselgren is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Andy,
Tony Wood's Combat Claims & Casualties has the following info:
20. November 1942
RAF 11 Group: Fighter-Roadstead Walcheren
10.00: 8/335th Sqn. Spitfire Vb

Must be the 335th Fighter Squadron, Vlll Fighter Command USAAF previously 121 Sqn RAF

Regards
Peter
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Old 15th August 2016, 03:13
andy bird andy bird is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Thank you Peter for this info, I'd not thought of Debden, I'll see whats been written up for the day at Debden as the strike took place at 16:05 in the afternoon.

Kindest Regards

Andy
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Old 15th August 2016, 05:04
Col Bruggy Col Bruggy is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Hello,

Too early?

The following is known:

20 November 1942:

Two 335 kites were sent out on a Rhubarb to the Furnes, Belgium area. Roy Evans caught a wandering Fi 156 and shot it down at 1135 hours, three miles southeast of Furnes. Before getting back to England, Evans had to bail out into the sea*, but was rescued a short time later. (Box Score: 1 Destroyed, 0 lost)

See: Escort To Berlin:The 4th Fighter Group in World War II.
Fry,Garry L. & Jeffrey L. Ethell.
New York:Arco Publishing,1980.
p.4.

* 335thFS USAAF. Spitfire Vb AA752 - Into sea on ops.

The Spitfire escort (which failed to materialize, incidentally), was possibly No.167 Sqn, based at Ludham.

Col.

Last edited by Col Bruggy; 15th August 2016 at 08:06.
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Old 15th August 2016, 10:32
SteveB SteveB is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Andy

Col is correct the unpublished official history in AIR 41 "The RAF in the Maritime War" states that the escort was intended to be provided by 167Sqn and they failed to rendezvous with the Beaux.

Steve
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Old 15th August 2016, 17:15
andy bird andy bird is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Col & Steve,

Wow cheers. Just went into the attic to wade through Roy Nesbit's correspondence from the 1990's to see if he mentioned them, sadly not.

It would appear that not everyone was aware that the Spits weren't flying Top Cover a piece of Form Orange (via Australia) has Howard Fraser's navigator on the day Reginald Griffin (usual Treadwell was flying with PO Lee on this occasion - I expect he was mighty glad not in his original seat ! Griffin normally flew with Sgt. Muson) calling for them in plain language 16:06 'Fighters were the F are you' then 'We're on our own.'

Rest of form missing.

Andy B
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Old 15th August 2016, 21:59
phasselgren phasselgren is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Quote:
Originally Posted by Col Bruggy View Post
Hello,

Too early?

The following is known:

20 November 1942:

Two 335 kites were sent out on a Rhubarb to the Furnes, Belgium area. Roy Evans caught a wandering Fi 156 and shot it down at 1135 hours, three miles southeast of Furnes. Before getting back to England, Evans had to bail out into the sea*, but was rescued a short time later. (Box Score: 1 Destroyed, 0 lost)

See: Escort To Berlin:The 4th Fighter Group in World War II.
Fry,Garry L. & Jeffrey L. Ethell.
New York:Arco Publishing,1980.
p.4.

* 335thFS USAAF. Spitfire Vb AA752 - Into sea on ops.

The Spitfire escort (which failed to materialize, incidentally), was possibly No.167 Sqn, based at Ludham.

Col.
Tony Wood's combat claims and casualties has this Rhubarb on the 21 November. Possibly a mistake in the transcribt of the original document.

Regards
Peter
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Old 16th August 2016, 01:46
Col Bruggy Col Bruggy is offline
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Re: Spitfire Escort 20 Nov 42 to Beau's

Hello,

Yes, I'm willing to admit the source I used is somewhat dated (and unreliable). I did check several other sources:

1/ Frank Olynyk's , USAAF (European Theater) Credits.(same author's, Stars & Bars).
2/ Kent Miller's, Fighter Units & Pilots of the 8th Air Force. Vol.2.
3/ Spitfire:The History, Morgan & Shacklady.
4/ A-B's RAF Aircraft AA100 to AZ999.

All quoted the date as 21 November, 1942.

I opted for Fry & Ethell. Seemingly, they are wrong, and so am I. Apologies!

Col.
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