Sgt Ralph 'Tich' Havercroft

[Dannemois]

My grandson [age 9] is very interested in planes and whilst in a model shop I offered to him a model plane and gave him the choice to select which one. He selected a beautiful model of a spitfire N3249 QJ-P piloted by Sgt Ralph 'Tich' Havercroft of 92 sqdn [20/3/40].

Can anyone please give any information of both pilot and aircraft, I would also appreciate a copy of any photographs.

Regards, Roy

[Tom Semenza]

Roy,

Spitfire Ia N3249 was taken on charge by 92 Squadron on 20.03.40. It was damaged in a crash-landing on 31.08.40 while being flown by Sgt. Havercroft. After repairs it was reissued to 602 Sqn. on 10.11.40 and failed to return from a mission on 14.02.41.

Sgt. Ralph Edward "Titch" Havercroft was posted to 92 Sqn. aslo in March 1940. Although he flew N3249 at least on the occasion noted above, he made no claims with this aircraft. His regular mount from May to Aug. 1940 was N3285 coded QJ-R with which he made 7 claims; 2 and one shared confirmed, 2 unconfirmed, and 2 damaged. He left 92 Sqn. sometime after 26 Jun. 41 with the rank of Flight Sgt. with a total of 3 and 1 shared destroyed, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 1 and 1 shared probable, and 3 damaged. He then served as a test pilot for the remainder of the war ending as a Squadron Leader. He retired from the RAF in 1963 with the rank of Wing Commander.

Unfortunately, most of the claims made by 92 Sqn. during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain period lack information regarding the serial numbers of the aircraft used. The only known claims I have found for N3249 were for a pair of Do17s destroyed by Flt.Lt. R.R.S. Tuck on 24.05.40. Tuck was to claim 27 and 2 shared destroyed in addition to many other uncomfirmed, probables and damaged before he himself was shot down over France on 28.01.42 becoming a POW.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Regards,
Tom

[Dannemois]

Hi Tom
Many thanks for the information, which is much appreciated. I am hoping others will contribute so I can write up a little booklet for my grandson; he loves to know all there is to know about anything he is interested in.

Regards, Roy

[Treviboy]

Hi,
I found this forum after reading the story and fate of N3249. And Roy, you may find it as interesting as I did. The address is:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-my-plane.html
I was googling toread anything about the 1991 excavation of her, but haven't found too much yet. After reading Sgt Denchfield's story, I felt like I knew N3249 a bit myself.
Cheers,

Trev