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  • Moffist

Tiger Moths at 20 ERFTS, Gravesend 1939

Does anyone have any photographs of the Tigers at Gravesend between 1937 and 1939? I am restoring N-5490 which served there until 3rd September 1939 when it moved to Castle Bromwich, and then withing two weeks to Elmdon when Gravesend was requisitioned as a satellite field for Biggin. Two weeks after arriving at Elmdon, N-5490 crashed at Hockley Heath, which was a relief landing ground for Elmdon and it didn’t re-enter service until December 1940 when it was issued to 11 EFTS, Scone where it saw out the war.

At Gravesend, N-5490 was used to train Flet Air Arm pilots – among whom were Mike Lithgow, ‘Hoppy’ Hodginson, Anthony Tuke and many more who went on to distinguished wartime and post-war flying careers.

Any photos or information relating to this Tiger or Tigers at 20 ERFTS or 11 EFTS would be sincerely appreciated.

Here’s the movement card info. for N-5490:

N5490 c/n 3763 Toc 24 MU [Stoke Heath, Salop, adjacent to RAF Ternhill] 17.11.38. To 20 ERFTS [Gravesend] 7.3.39. To 14 EFTS [Castle Bromwich] 15.10.39. Crashed Hockley Heath, nr Birmingham 25.10.39. To 13 MU [Henlow] for repairs 1.11.39; to 46 MU [Speke] .40. To 11 EFTS [Scone] 28.12.40. To 9 MU [Henlow] 16.8.46. To 21 EFTS [Booker] 22.3.48. To 7 FTS Cottesmore 10.3.50. To Finningley Station Flight 25.8.50. To 20 MU [Aston Down] 12.3.52. Sold 6.11.53 to AJ Whittemore (Aeradio) Ltd, Croydon. Regd G-ANHG 4.12.53 to AJ Whittemore (Aeradio) Ltd, Croydon. Sold 22.7.55 to Continental Aircraft Services Ltd, Croydon and regn lapsed. Overhauled and sold to France.

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