Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Allied and Soviet Air Forces

Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 23rd October 2012, 18:35
Brian Brian is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Posts: 3,972
Brian is on a distinguished road
Greek Air Force Ansons 1941.

Hi guys,

I believe that five RHAF Ansons (N51, N52, N55, N56 and N61) escaped to Egypt from Greece via Crete in late April 1941; a sixth had been stafed by Bf109s on the ground at Eleusis (near Athens) on 23 April.

Has anyone the serial number of this aircraft?

Cheers
Brian
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24th October 2012, 07:39
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Great Britain
Posts: 4,269
Alex Smart is on a distinguished road
Re: Greek Air Force Ansons 1941.

Helloo Brian,
I am sure that I posted the details of the Greek Ansons on this forum some time ago, or maybe a similar forum?
Anyway here goes.
Details from Air Britain's N1000 - L9999, AA100-AZ999 and The Anson File.

12 Greek Ansons
Avro Works Order 20717
C/n's 1111 to 1122, TT51 to TT62
In present times it is I think accepted that "TT" was "pi" However the photos show the letter "N" before the number, which match's other Greek Navy aircraft of the day.
Avro c/n RAF Serial Civil Reg Greek N/r Delivery date
1111 - N5150 - G-AFTU - N-51 - 22-5-39
1112 - N5155 - G-AFTV - N-52 - 22-5-39
1113 - N5160 - G-AFTW - N-53 - 22-5-39
1114 - N5165 - G-AFUH - N-54 - 5-6-39
1115 - N5170 - G-AFUI - N-55 - 5-6-39
1116 - N5175 - G-AFUJ - N-56 - 5-6-39
1117 - N5185 - G-AFUM - N-57 - 5-6-39
1118 - N5190 - G-AFUN - N-58 - 19-6-39
1119 - N5200 - G-AFUO - N-59 - 19-6-39
1120 - N5205 - G-AFUR - N-60 - 19-6-39
1121 - N5210 - G-AFUS - N-61 - 7-7-39
1122 - N5215 - G-AFUT - N-62 - 7-7-39

Five reached North Africa, they were N-51,52,55,56 and 61.

They were impressed into the RAF as :
AX748 - N-51 - 13(H) - Overshot landing into a ditch, undercarriage collapsed, Gaza 10-7-42 DBR.
AX749 - N-52 - 13(H) - Overshot landing in fog El Gamil, 10-2-42.
AX750 - N-55 - 13(H) - SOC 5-8-42.
AX751 - N-56 - 13(H) - SOC 5-8-42.
AX752 - N-61 - 13(H) - Crashed in bad visibility near Port Said, 24-2-42.

From "Air War for Yugoslavia Greece and Crete 1940-41" by Shores Cull & Malizia.
Page 27:
Order of Battle 28-10-40, 13 Mira - 9 Ansons.
So prior to this date three Ansons became unserviceable to the Greek Forces.
Page 78:
On the 9th February 1941 Anson N-57 low on fuel attempted a force landing on the Plain of Messara in Southern Crete. On approach they released their bombs but one hung up and exploded on touchdown, destroying the Anson and killing 1/Lt Nicholaous Toubakaris and his Navigator and injuring the Gunner.
page 288:
and five Ansons of 13 Mira (N51,52,55,56 and 61) the latter loaded with personnel. One more of these , flown by Wg Cdr Lord Forbes from the RAF's Air HQ flew up to Eleusis to collect the wife of a Greek Government official, but as light crept over the airfield Messerschmitts strafed the Anson setting it afire.
Page 289:
Ju88's bombed the harbour and the Greek luxury yacht "Hellas" sank. One of those who survived was Wg Cdr Lord Forbes pilot of the ill-fated Anson earlier in the day. He later reached Crete by caique.
So 12 - 3 = 9
9 - 2 = 7
7 - 5 = 2
So the fate of the three earlier unidentified Ansons is unknown as is the Forbes Anson identity and the two other Ansons prior to the five which evaded to North Africa.

Hope this helps,
All for now
Alex
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24th October 2012, 13:52
Brian Brian is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Posts: 3,972
Brian is on a distinguished road
Re: Greek Air Force Ansons 1941.

Thanks Alex

However, I am the author of 'Airwar over Yugoslavia, Greece & Crete'!

I am seeking the serial number of the Anson that was strafed on 23 April.

Cheers
Brian
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RAF and RAAF ORBs available on the Web (new version) Laurent Rizzotti Allied and Soviet Air Forces 66 12th May 2020 14:14
interesting VN story John Beaman Post-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation 1 6th July 2012 10:49
RAF Bomber Command 'Y' Reports Bruce Dennis Allied and Soviet Air Forces 8 29th December 2011 22:58
Airpower summary Pilot Post-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation 0 23rd February 2007 16:11
VVS divisions Mike35nj Allied and Soviet Air Forces 2 7th August 2006 14:27


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 18:52.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net