Comper Swift ID Mystery

As for the other Swifts Air Britain’s Impressments Logs list BPE at Debden 1939 with S/Ldr Atcherley, later to Wittering in 1941/42. Sold in 1943, restored in 1946 crashed 1947. BUU to 131sqn ATC Newcastle airport later restored, CTF used by Portsmouth Aviation as a coms aircraft until 1944 and later restored, Plus one used by 247 sqn in 1941 which has since been identified as G-ABWW

AA. Air Ministry Aero-Engine Serial Numbers 1916-1963, contradicts others then. The AM document is a one-off, and general handwritten, and the particular entry is supported by a memo from 41 Group. There are a few single seat type (including another Swift without registration) that are listed as having been being impressed into military service. 

Do the other publication list their sources? 

I doubt that  F-AOTP/G-ACDS would have been impressed. No Swifts underwent formal impressment (I think I’m correct in saying that single seat aircraft fell outside the impressment criteria) but Peter Moss (Impressments Log, vol. 1 – AB, 1962) says:

Not a type that attracted the RAF but at least four saw active service

Those four were G-ABPE, G-ABUU, G-ACTF and an unidentified example that was used by Nº 247(F) Squadron. Probably it won’t surprise you to learn that F-AOTP/G-ACDS is not listed in Cadet Corps Airframes (MCAS, 1975) as having been allocated to an ATC squadron (the only two recorded as having been allocated being G-ABPE and G-ABUU).  

AA. I too am surprised to see it is still running. 

That demonstrates, Oracal, that there are some positive aspects to the covid-19 crisis. I would like to think that this gesture, on the part of the National Archives, will continue as and after the UK (hopefully) moves out of the covid-19 crisis. But I won’t hold my breath!

AA – Thanks.

I was able make a free download of the files. Over 200 pages of fascinating reading, including an insight of the wartime casework of MI 6. 

There is also a clear indication that in 1943, Heston Aircraft still held the original records of Comper Swift aircraft production.

There’s a file in the NA at Kew (q.v. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11090255).

Lucien Jules Francois LECOQ: French. LECOQ flew to Britain in his own plane in 1942 and was detained for the rest of the Second World War on the grounds of suspicion that he was a German agent intent on joining the French Air Force here in order to steal an aircraft and fly it to the German side. The French took no action against him after the war, which prompted him to ask for his aeroplane back. The aeroplane could not be found and it is not clear whether he was ever given a substitute or compensation.

farnboroughrob.

I have reviewed the entry in the AM document again and agree with your post. The “41” I thought was the date of the memo (it is in the 1941 section) is actually a reference to 41 group RAF. Date of memo 8/3/43. 
 

Mystery solved. Thank you.

Interesting one, and a bit of sleuthing found ….from https://www.ab-ix.co.uk/pdfs/comperswift.pdf

S33/2 Regd G-ACDS [CofR 4177] 13.2.33 to Mark Antony Lacayo, Hooton [Comper Sales Manager; regd as nominee]. CofA 3839 issued 5.4.33. Dd Evreux 28.2.33 and operated in France in UK marks. Crashed in France and regn cld 1.34. Rebuilt and regd FAOTP [CofR 4612] 4.3.36 to Aero Club de l’Eure, Evreaux. Regd 1.39 to Lucien Jules Francois Lecoq, Guyancourt. Reportedly flown by Lecoq to Marchwood, nr Southampton early 12.42; Lecoq [not as sometimes reported a German-sponsored agent] and attempted to join RAF but detained in Camp 020 instead. Allocated to unidentified ATC unit 8.3.43; probably locally and reportedly abandoned and partly buried after WWII. [Lecoq was repatriated after D-Day and given Hawk k Trainer N3802/F-BCDU in compensation in 1949