Saro London, emblem.. Sqn ID?

Hi Allan,
Many thanks for the info and the insight into the 1930s RAF Badge scheme, something that I was not aware of….Always an education on the forum.

Looking at descriptions of the various squadron crests, 201 uses a Seagull..202 a Mallard…204 a Comorant.

Looks sort of Gull like to me…calling Bill Oddie!!

Cheers, Chumpy.

Interesting – I agree with you, that fuel tank leads to 204 being the best bet for now until more evidence is available.

The photo is the right way round – sorry, I was speculating that the bird would be the same one as used in the WWII period badges which all face the other way. That seems to be not the case.

It is not “non-standard” artwork though – it is a very short lived scheme introduced in 1936 to standardise squadron badges – each with a background to indicate the role (as above). The star is the role, the bird indicates the squadron. The scheme faded out in two years or so being replaced with the more familiar two letter codes. The difficulty is going to be finding out which squadron that bird represents.

I don’t have much on the Saro London and nothing that helps. I do have a short roll of Pathe film showing the aircraft leaving for Australia but a hi res scan shows there was no squadron badge on the nose! Ah well, too much to hope. 🙂

Allan

Many thanks to all for the input, still not really sure but 204 seems likely. Bit of a non-standard art work by the look of it.

This particular London fitted with overload fuel tanks, 204 being involved in a long distance flight to Sydney back in 1937/38, according to the Putnam SARO voilume.
The photo would appear to be the right way around, note the access door only on the Starboard side as far as I can see. Numerals on the bow of the RAF launch, are correct.

Cheers, Chumpy.

The fighters used a spearhead and the bombers a grenade)

That must have made for an interesting dogfight. :p

The six pointed star indicated a reconnaisance or army co-operation aircraft. (The fighters used a spearhead and the bombers a grenade)

The bird will be the squadron emblem. Londons served with 201, 202, 204 and 240 squadrons. Being maritime squadrons they used a variety of seabirds in their badges – they are shown here:
http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn201-205.htm
http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn236-240.htm

To my eye it could be 201 squadron (but not certain). It also looks as if your image may have been reversed at some stage – a negative printed the wrong way round.

Cheers

Allan

From a description in Rawlings Coastal Support and Special Squadrons it looks like 201 Squadron. However I could be wrong.