Quick question – SM832

hi mate im currentley researching my fiancees grandfathers career as he was also in japan as groundcrew on 17sqd. the thing is after the weekend ive found out he was in 7132se as well so was really interested to hear about your dad serving there as well?
i would be interested in any pics or imformation you may have?

I just brought all my Dads photos back from the UK, I’ll scan and post them as soon as I can – sorry I have no info on 7132se, or history of 17sqd at the end of the war or after.

Unfortunately I only have one war story – my Dad didn’t get demobbed for several years, something he was always bitter about, priority wasn’t for ground crew to use up space on ships, and when he did get back no-one wanted to re-live the war, he kept everything bottled up.
My Dad told me about a time when he was working crew on a bomber. Supplies were always very short. He replaced one tyre, but thought that the other could get through one more trip. As they came back, he was getting more an more worried that the tyre wouldn’t hold up on landing, so as soon as the plane touched down he sprinted out to the field just as a tyre blew and the crate veered off the runway onto the grass. He got there first, opened the hatches and got everyone out, and everyone praised his getting there so quick. Fortunately there was no real emergency, they just had to tow the plane off the grass. When they did my Dad saw that the tyre that had blown was the brand new one, the old one was still intact!

Is your fiancees grandfather still alive? – what’s his name?

Fab!
Any more info?
I just posted this in another forum:
William Henry Stallard (“Jock” to his RAF buddies, “Harry” to his family, “Bill” to his wife and “Dad” to me) was a LAC (Airframes) working on this kite in the mid/late 40’s (flown by Battle of Britain hero “Ginger” Lacey and others), I’d like to find out when my Dad and YB-A were in the same places (he was in India, Burma, Ceylon, Singapore and Japan); the production schedule for RN135 is 6MU 8-1-45 222; MU 5-2-45; Empire Paragon 12-2-45; India 12-4-45; 17S Japan 28-9-46; SOC 24-3-48, so I’m looking at India and post war Japan operations.
I think he was with 7132SE but I’m still waiting on info from the RAF about his service record to confirm all his postings.
Anyone know how I can find out more specific info for the YB-A bird? Operational logs, maintenance logs – anything! Photos of course!

Regards
Jim Stallard

hi mate im currentley researching my fiancees grandfathers career as he was also in japan as groundcrew on 17sqd. the thing is after the weekend ive found out he was in 7132se as well so was really interested to hear about your dad serving there as well?
i would be interested in any pics or imformation you may have?

Laceys 17th Sq Spit was RN135 (6MU 8-1-45 222MU 5-2-45 Empire Paragon 12-2-45 India 12-4-45 17S Japan 28-9-46 SOC 24-3-48)
The SM832 production schedule has it Shipped to Bombay for RIAF, arriving May 14, 1945 then stored for next two years…
They may indeed have had the same camo display, but isn’t it the case that SM832 never had the pleasure of being flown by Lacey?

Jim

Fantastic!
Please see my post here: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?126589-YB-A-(RN135)-Mark-XIVe-Spitfire-(17th-Squadron)&highlight=RN135

Jim Stallard

Fab!
Any more info?
I just posted this in another forum:
William Henry Stallard (“Jock” to his RAF buddies, “Harry” to his family, “Bill” to his wife and “Dad” to me) was a LAC (Airframes) working on this kite in the mid/late 40’s (flown by Battle of Britain hero “Ginger” Lacey and others), I’d like to find out when my Dad and YB-A were in the same places (he was in India, Burma, Ceylon, Singapore and Japan); the production schedule for RN135 is 6MU 8-1-45 222; MU 5-2-45; Empire Paragon 12-2-45; India 12-4-45; 17S Japan 28-9-46; SOC 24-3-48, so I’m looking at India and post war Japan operations.
I think he was with 7132SE but I’m still waiting on info from the RAF about his service record to confirm all his postings.
Anyone know how I can find out more specific info for the YB-A bird? Operational logs, maintenance logs – anything! Photos of course!

Regards
Jim Stallard

Mt719

I Just coincidence or did they like to leave ’em down when operating in SE Asia?

Nope.

Just a quick fix for a maintenance problem. 🙁

Mark

I saw SM832 in person for the first time this past weekend at Chino. I was not dissapointed! The only change I saw was that the tailwheel was in the fixed position with the doors closed up tight. Permanent fix or just temporary to get her flying for the show? I also notice that MT719 has a fixed tw in the pic above. Just coincidence or did they like to leave ’em down when operating in SE Asia?

Imagine that lot at Duxford…! 😀

Thanks for that one Mark. Nice to finally see that kite from the other side. 🙂

Dan

Still the 17 Sqd. CO’s kite.

Miho, Japan – post May 1946.

At last. All the squadron aircraft in identical livery.

Mark

Just to add to the fun. Here’s a photo of Ginger’s kite RN135, post Ginger, still with 17 Squadron during occupation duties in Japan. Definately gray-green camo and now clipped wings as I think they had full span to begin with. Not nearly as flashy a paint job as the first one.

Dan

No there was no re-painting done prior to the departure for the USA. If you click this link to the official TFC website http://www.fighter-collection.com/ you will see some of the last shots taken prior to the aircraft actually going in to the sea container (at the bottom of the page). There is also some news of the latest TFC prize draw 🙂

Would it be anything like MT719?

Must just be the lighting on the original, then! 😀

Not sure who took this photo, but it has to be my favourite of this Spit! 🙂

Thanks for the explanation, Mark12.

Ginger Lacey livery – a ‘grey’ area.

Daz,

No change to the colours here methinks.

When SM832 was painted back in 1995 the requirement was for a ‘Brown and Green’ SEAC scheme. The Ginger Lacey bit came a touch later in the decision process.

On balance I too think it should be Green and Grey but there was great variation in that theatre at that time and every year we learn a little more.

Mark

Photo: N Wilkinson – Seletar mid/late 1945

In all the photos I have seen of it over at Chino, it still looks as good as it ever did here.

One of the best looking Spitfires around in my opinion!

It looked to me as though SM832 had been, or was in the process of being, repainted in the original version of this photo (had to reduce it for the forum). The camouflage looked as though it was now grey and green (which is how it should be, unless I’m mistaken, for Ginger LAcey’s aircraft).

Unless it’s just the lighting in the photograph, which I suppose could account for it.

What do you mean

more accurate colour scheme

???