I should know

Thanks everyone for all the help. That’s put me out of my misery.

R6776

I knew that serial rang a bell someplace – a while back there was a publication that was something related to the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series, with freebie die-cast models on the front, and what was the first issue/model? Spitfire MkI/II Aces, with a Spitfire “MkII”.

Why MkII in quotation marks? ‘Cos the serial carried by it was not a MkII serial – it was a MkI – R6776.

Spitfire MkI/II Aces 1939-41 has info of two of ‘Grumpy’ Unwin’s aircraft in it – the front cover painting depicts Spitfire MkIa X4179, a near factory-fresh machine that served briefly with 266 Sqn. Unwin scored four more Bf109 kills in her before the aircraft passed on to 609 Squadron.

The second aircraft is our elusive R6776, one of the original cannon-armed MkIBs, with which Unwin claimed a Bf110 destroyed and another probably destroyed on 16 August, followed by a third ‘110 on September 3. The aircraft was later modified to a MkVB and served with 92, 316 and 306 Sqns, before being written off in May ’42 after sustaining Cat E battle damage in a fighter sweep over France (info from Spitfire MkI/II Aces, 1939-41)

Hope this helps! 🙂

Thanks for that. Not to my knowledge, everything seems to be playing ok at my end but what the hell? this is computers we’re talking about. I’m convinced they have a mind of their own.

~Double blink~ Mike, are you having problems posting? That’s two threads where a response you have made to a post gets repeated about 1/2 hour later…

May 6th 1996…the only time I’ve ever seen AR213 “in the flesh” so to speak. Looking forward to seeing her again sometime 🙂

Thanks both- I’ve managed to find a ser no R6776 does this change any of the info you’ve given Becka?

AR213 as QV-H

Here is AR213 painted port side only as K9853/QV-H as part of a promotion thing with Osprey and ‘Grumpy’ Unwin I believe.

Photo taken at Duxford 6 May 1996

Mark

I think it might be in Dilip Sarkars re-hashing of Squadron Leader Brian Lane’s book that ‘Grumpy’ did fly QV-H while with the Squadron. What the serial was I haven’t a clue. Incidentally, the Alsatian in the photograph in Ashley’s link was Grumpy’s dog Flash.

Sorry can’t be more helpful.

Regards,

kev35

Hmmmm…looks like we’re going along the right lines. According to the Making History site, 19 Squadron changed it’s Mk1 Spits for MkII’s in late September 1940, so things could match. As Unwin left for Cranwell in late 1940, I’m guessing it is quite possible that he wasn’t the pilot of the aircraft you are seeking, although not entirely impossible of course.

Mark12, where are you and your wealth of knowledge??? 🙂

Thanks both- I’ve managed to find a ser no R6776 does this change any of the info you’ve given Becka?

QV = 19 Sqn

Found the following info at :http://www.making-history.ca/features/british/unwin/default.htm

Obviously this is referring to a MkI, but could it be the aircraft you are seeking?

The answer to your first question is 19 Squadron 🙂

I’ll be back…