hello all
looking for any pics of Spitfire N3029 “DW*K” of 610 squadron; I have the usual suspects, but just wondering if there are any others out there.
Also, it turned up in a few web searches that there was more than just one Spitfire marked as such during the BoB period, which would seem to make sense considering that N3029 was out of action a couple of times; does anyone have any more information? Further, would it not be likely that after repair and return to service that N3029 would have gone to some other unit as a replacement, and if so it would have sported other markings, yes?
As far as how N3029 ended up, I was under the impression that it was rebuilt as a Mk V and lost during sea transport; is this correct? I see no indication of it being converted to a later mark of any kind in the reference book mentioned below, however.
From the Shacklady/Morgan tome:
N3029 318 FF GP 13-9-39 9MU 15-9-39 66S 28-9-39 s/dn by Bf109 P/O Mathers safe C2 5-9-40 cd/ld nr Graves Sgt Willcocks safe C3 14-9 SOC 1-10 12MU 5-3-41 FA 24-4-42 76MU 15-10 Pet Mear 8-11 lost at sea 8-1-43 FH247.10
I get the basic gist of the above, but I have to admit to being lost as to what “FF”, “GP”, “FA” and “FH247.10” stand for…
Lastly, if it indeed did go down on the Peter Mearsk, is the wreck location known? Just curious….
here’s the few pics that I gathered during a quick search on-line; my apologies if they have been pilfered without permission or due credit.
cheers
greg v.
By: VoyTech - 3rd October 2007 at 14:39
‘FF GP’ probably means ‘First Flown by George Pickering’
Air Britain’s military aviation magazine ‘Aeromilitaria’ has recently ran a series of Spitfire I serial-by-serial listings. These are more detailed than the Morgan/Shacklady book. The N3029 one gives the folowing info:
Deld 9 MU 15.9.39; 66 Sqn 28.9.39; Shot down by Bf 109, forcelanded 5.9.40 (P/O RJ Mathers OK); 66 Sqn; Shot down by Bf 109, crashlanded nr Gravesend 14.9.40 (Sgt PH Willcocks OK); AST Hamble 22.9.40; 12 MU 5.3.41; 61 OTU (TO-D) 30.6.41; Landed u/c retracted, Plt Off W.S.Lidner. Cat B. 24.4.42; 1 CRU 23.4.42; AW/CN 20.6.42; 8 MU 23.6.42; 76 MU 15.10.42; Birkenhead 31.10.42; Shipped on SS ‘Peter Mearsk’ bound for Port Sudan 18.11.42; Torpedoed and sunk by U-185 west of the Azores at 39.47 N 41.00 W, Cat E 7.12.42
I also have the Spitfire as the one in which Sgt M. Cameron claimed 1/3-0-0 He 111 on 11.1.40.
By: miniman - 1st October 2007 at 11:23
http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2495.html
Try here for the Peter Maersk’s details/position.
Hope this helps,
Barry:)
By: Mark12 - 1st October 2007 at 11:22
“FF”, “GP”, “FA” and “FH247.10”
First Flight
Group
Flying Accident
Flying Hours.
Mark
By: QldSpitty - 1st October 2007 at 10:42
Off memory….
“FF” is first flight,”GP” is factory flown from??
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October 1, 2007 at 10:33 am