Aircraft recognition 0 out of 10!

The Bowyer/Rawlings ‘Squadron Codes 1937-56’ lists 248 as WR (39-43 ish) and then DM until 46 as shown in this link, which also cites QK prior to 39:
http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn246-250.htm

But the MOD shows the code as RK in their web history on the squadron as does this other listing:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h248.html
http://www.btinternet.com/~lee_mail/rafcodes.html

Bowyer & Rawlings attribute RK to 10 OTU .

Confused. I tend to believe Bowyer/Rawlings.

I’ll check my sources, but from a quick google, RK = 248 Squadron – Banff shipping wing equipped with Mossies.

I thought 248 was DM?

It’s a distinct possibility from the limited clues available.

Possibly this isn’t a model of E Taylor’s own aircraft, or maybe he painted false codes on it for ‘security’ reasons? :confused:

From other sources- a/c reg, RK-F; mention of a P/O Ted Waring crew in Camp ,so maybe off same Sqd/Station,mention also of other possible crew but only by first/nicknames.

I’ll check my sources, but from a quick google, RK = 248 Squadron – Banff shipping wing equipped with Mossies.

From other sources- a/c reg, RK-F; mention of a P/O Ted Waring crew in Camp ,so maybe off same Sqd/Station,mention also of other possible crew but only by first/nicknames.

:pHey, it’s a newspaper article, not an avaiation mag.:rolleyes:

Our local rag (De Telegraaf) also has a habit of mixing up thins aeronautical.
Once the reported the recovery of a Hawker Hunter that had been shot down in 1944 with several dutch agents on board (it was a Hudson).

Cees

Interesting that the article (now?) refers to it being a Halifax bomber.

Are you joking?

It was Stalag Luft III that was immortalised in the film The Great Escape, not pilot and model creator. He most likely died in the camp, since he is “known only as E Taylor”.

Yes – of course!

The story is also reported in the Daily Mail with a photograph that shows the nose art and code slightly more clearly. It’s not 102 squadron as the second code letter looks more like a K. (Edit) – it is suggested it could be 100 Squadron, a unit with which the skull & cross bones is associated. However 100 was a Lanc unit in 1944 and coded HW.

This report also shows a hand drawn map in the diary titled “The last trip” and shows the aircraft in flames over Yugoslavia and crashing just over the Hungarian border while flying north and then plots his route, presumably in captivity, ending up at Sagan. The report also states that the aircraft was lost over Hungary rather than on a Berlin raid as the Telegraph story reported so could well be one of the aircraft involved in “resistance” operations.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1107802/Pictured-The-amazing-tin-bomber-British-pilot-Great-Escape-POW-camp.html

Could this be our man?

March 22/23 1944 100 Sqdn.
F/Lt. F.Taylor. Lancaster. Heav Flak. 18,000 ft Aircraft on fire in air, abandoned in air. Ultimate ause of loss due to fire. Aircraft destroyed. Radio apparatus on except GEE when shot down.

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Information_from_Prisoner_of_War_in_Stalag_Luft_III

Perhaps the reporter used the Dorling Kindersley Flight 2009 Calendar for research – similar format to Ghosts and Flying Legends calendars.

January is listed as Avro 683 Lancaster, the photo in the lower calendar page shows a crew around the nose of a Lanc, however the main picture is a painting of a brace of Halibags :confused: – seems even a publishing house with probably a massive library of pictures can’t find one that is captioned correctly.

There is no E Taylor listed as POW on 28 August 1944 in Bomber Command Losses…

…but there is no guarantee he was shot-down on this date (maybe he arrived at Stalag Luft III that day), or maybe he wasn’t even a member of Bomber Command?

Nice model though. 🙂

It is certainly a lovely piece of work. Let us hope it finds a good home.

I’m saying nothing about the reporter’s aircraft recognition skills, except that my partner’s 7-year-old grandson can tell the difference between a Lanc and Halibag… :rolleyes:

There appears to be a small skull and crossbones on the nose when you enlarg the photo similar to Friday the 13th markings

It’s a shame the squadron code is obscured, but only three units flew the Halifax I, according to Wing Commander Jefford’s ‘RAF Squadrons’ – 10, 35 and 76 coded ZA, TL and MP respectively, none of which seem to fit the letters on the model. But it could be DY – 102 Squadron which flew the Halifax II out of Pocklington in 1944 and the model could be a Mk II srs 1.

I am sure if Holywood remake the Great Escape movie and they include the model it would become a B17

The article also mentions the pilot being shot down on a Berlin raid on 28 August 1944. Although there was no operation specifically targetting Berlin on that date (the focus remained on France from March 1944 until 1945), a number of Lancs and Halifaxes were lost on this date. However all the Halifaxes were lost in mining ops (La Pallice and the Baltic) and one on a “resistance” operation, location not stated. The two major Lanc ops were to Stettin and Konigsberg with 23 and 15 losses respectively.

This doesn’t really help to pin the model down – but it looks like a Merlin Halifax to me. And a fine example too – I’d be proud to own it.

A woundeful work of art (obviously a Halifax from its high mounted tailplane) worthy of 9 out of 10 in anyones book. Unfortunately its also poor journalisim (Who should be awarded a P45 for their efforts) of a standard we should not be expected to put up with. If the model had been a single engined aircraft with a turret it would no doubt have been identified as a Spitfire :p

But what I want to know is how he got it through the escape tunnel and then all the way across Europe with it. Wouldn’t a model of an allied bomber, tucked inside his overcoat, been a bit of a giveaway when he was stopped by the Germans and asked to produce his papers!

Are you joking?

It was Stalag Luft III that was immortalised in the film The Great Escape, not pilot and model creator. He most likely died in the camp, since he is “known only as E Taylor”.

But what I want to know is how he got it through the escape tunnel and then all the way across Europe with it. Wouldn’t a model of an allied bomber, tucked inside his overcoat, been a bit of a giveaway when he was stopped by the Germans and asked to produce his papers!