I am doing a profile of one of the camouflaged Harvard Mk.I’s operated in the UK, but has a crest/badge on the side which I am unable to identify.
From the info I have it either operated at 2TFS, 2 SFTS, 15 SFTS or 71 OTU. The last is definitely out, and 2FTS and 2 SFTS are just different names for the same unit (as I understand)
If it was at 2 SFTS (or FTS), then it would have operated from RAF Brize Norton, which was a part of No 23 (Training) Group which was in turn based at RAF South Cerney.
15 SFTS was at Chipping Norton and was under 21 (Training) Group which in turn was based at Cranwell. 15 SFTS also operated out of Lossiemouth and Middle Wallop.
Unfortunately none of the officially assigned badges I was able to find match the photo (Lossiemouth is close but the dark spot in the photo is too high in the ring). I am told that there were additional unofficial badges used and am wondering if this may be the case for these aircraft (or perhaps the parent organization for 21 & 23 training groups, for which I was also unable to find a badge?
Attached are the closeup of the badge and here is the profile as it currently stands (with the Lossiemouth(?) badge standing in for the correct one).
Finally for the North American experts – does anyone have a stencil diagram for the Mk.I? I have one for the Mk.IV and am wondering if one is known to exist for the Mk.I (I am also looking for one for the Mk.II, if it was different from that of the IV)
Cheers,
Mike Fletcher
By: Nieuport29 - 14th August 2008 at 01:29
still looking…
It seems they cheated and pretended there was no badge and the extra profile is missing the middle part of the badge so I’d guess they couldn’t find a match either. bummer. Thanks for the effort tho.
Cheers,
Mike Fletcher
ps – His conversion missed removing the trailing edge sweep and shortening the rear fuselage (the fin and rudder were moved aft to make the Harvard II/T-6 and the outer wing panels swung forward). It provides the full camouflage pattern though which is useful.
By: contrailjj - 13th August 2008 at 06:11
I thought it was kind of strange seeing a crest applied to what is generally observed as the forward fuselage ‘Gas Detector Panel’… who knows.
Anyway, PM regarding the article headed your way.
James
By: Nieuport29 - 13th August 2008 at 02:26
Thanks – I was leaning towards 2 SFTS as being the more likely.
Any mention as to which badge was used?
(I don’t get this magazine where I am)
Cheers,
Mike Fletcher
By: contrailjj - 12th August 2008 at 23:54
N7033
Mike,
N7033 (Harvard I) was the subject of a double-truck 5-view with (tinted top-side and Post-side views) in Scale Aircraft Modelling Vol. 6 No.2 (November 1983)
This was part of a conversion article by Jim Howard – the Illustrations were by Willy Peeters. The information quoted on the drawings states that N7033 was on strength with 2 SFTS.
James
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August 12, 2008 at 9:58 pm