I haven’t seen a copy of the book myself,, but from online searches, the book gifts of war lists W3841 as “Curyll Nedd – Neath Hawk” I have just found a newspaper article from 1941 with two photos sent to the secretary of the spitfire fund in Neath,, showing the aircraft with the name on it,, but the serial number wasn’t w3841,, but ?3322 the first letter is unreadable, but presume it to be a W,, as that is the only number I can find listed for 3322,, which was a research aircraft used at Boscombe Down.
does anyone have a photo of W3841 and W3322?
I wondered if anyone could shed any light on this (could anyone copy the section on the book for me)
thanks lyndon
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im also looking for info/photos on another presentation spitfire ( he may have also donated funds for another spitfire)
MARTIN EVANS BEVAN Donated by Martin Evans Bevan, X4621
was delivered to 72 Sqn on 2 November 1940. It was handed over to 485 SDN ON 27TH APRIL 1941
Nov 42…Mk I….X4621…Failed to recover from dive.
By: Beermat - 19th May 2015 at 20:27
Just to add that the practice of putting whatever name suited the recipients of the image on the nearest aircraft was rife. Large numbers of 263 squadron Whirlwinds became ‘Bellows’ for Pathe News in 1943, long after their manufacture – causing much confusion among those later trying to trace individual aircraft histories. The fact is the public were not party to aircraft movements or serials in wartime, so the powers that be got away with all kinds of deceptions. Simpler times, when there seemed no general understanding that aircraft were ordered in large batches regardless of sponsorship, and not individually commissioned and paid for like warships!
By: wolflyn - 19th May 2015 at 17:49
forgot to add,, I was kindly sent scans of the sections on the Martyn Evans Bevan and Curyll Nedd aircraft from gifts of war… if anyone comes across photos of the aircraft, please let me know,,, as along with myself,, the Niece of Jack Mooney, the pilot who was killed whilst on rhubarb operations in w3841 is also trying to find a photo of it
By: wolflyn - 19th May 2015 at 17:43
I presume the authors of “gifts of wa£r must have found documentation or photographic evidence that w3841 received the name curyll-nedd,, so hopefully that info will come to light somewhere,,
as mentioned above by other members, that there was quite a length of time where the Neath Guardian published the name of the aircraft in January,, and then its FF much later in the year,,, although that does coincide with the newspaper article I posted with the photo of ?3322 which was in the October 10 Neath Guardian
additionaly Osprey Spit V aces book has a photo of spitfires under repair/upgrades at Westland, with a description of w3841,, which describes the cartoon dog painted under the cockpit but no mention of a name,,, also in other books w3841 is listed with other aircraft in the squadron, ,many of those aircraft include their presentation names, ,but again no mention of a name for w3841,, it is only gifts of war that appears to list it.
By: Seafire - 19th May 2015 at 11:44
The picture dates from January 1941, although Curyll Nedd was not sent to 45MU Kinloss in September 41.
I don’t understand what you say about 45MU- how does that enter into the discussion? (Not trying to “challenge” you, just feeling that I’ve missed something. Did you mean to say “not sent… until September?)
Which picture dates Jan ’41? W3322 did not fly until June ’41. Ah, I see W3841 went to 45MU in Sept. I was going to speculate that, perhaps, the name (sponsorship) was transferred to the latter serial when it was realized that the former was not heading for operational use?
bob
By: antoni - 17th May 2015 at 22:12
Curyll Nedd – Donor Neath Borough & Neath Rural District Fighter Plane Fund through A Goodridge Esq Neath. £3,000 donated by D.M. Evans Bevan JP.
Martyn (with a y not i) Evans Bevan – The donor (£6,000) was D.M.Evans Bevan JP of Danycraig, Newton, Porthcawl. Martyn Evans Bevan was his son.
Hendon Griffin – RAF museum photographs P009840, P00984, show serial number W3332. Published in Modellers Data File.
As noted in Gifts of War, Hawker were notorious for giving many temporary presentation names and serial numbers to a Hurricane for the purposes of photographs to be sent to donors. A member of staff was dressed up to look like a pilot and posed with the machine. Often the Mk differed from that of the serial number.
By: steve611 - 17th May 2015 at 17:18
Interesting- I started with M&S and didn’t look too closely in Gifts. M&S lists both 3332 and 3322 as Hendon Griffin!
By: wolflyn - 17th May 2015 at 16:47
3332 was the Hendon Griffin,, although one of the lists refers to 3322 being it to,, but presume that is a typo,,
it would seem strange for an aircraft to be badged up and photographed, and the photos sent to the town which was not actually their aircraft that they had donated the funds for,
apparently the town received a painting at a later date, so im trying to track that down…
By: steve611 - 17th May 2015 at 16:19
Gifts of War puzzles over this one. The picture dates from January 1941, although Curyll Nedd was not sent to 45MU Kinloss in September 41. W3332 was a presentation Mk V which carried the name Hendon Griffin (but also taken on charge too late- 28 May 41) but neither Morgan and Shacklady nor Gifts offers that it spent its time ad Boscombe Down.
On the other hand it was apparently far from unknown to paint names an the nearest airframe for the picture.
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May 17, 2015 at 3:27 pm