35 Sqn Vickers Wellesley 05/05/1938

I see what you’re saying and that is why I was mentioning not consecutive order of the serials, but assumed that say X1154 would be A, and if X1156 was the next serial on strength it would be B and not C, and that codes were applied on unit when all allocated aircraft were on strength.
However it does seem a hard system to apply, and an even harder one to maintain (especially in war periods) so you could well be right.

Edit, As I say I’m making assumptions here and can’t really research at the moment, but this thread on Lightnings, http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=103936&highlight=56+lightningson, is a good example that illustrates what I’m trying to get at, particularly post #7 and #15. VC-10s and Dominies are other examples I can cite straight away, I do realise these are all well and truely post-war though. Interesting topic!

Generally speaking (ie not Wellesley particularly) I was under the impression that code letters were allocated in serial order (not always in consecutive order), however it can soon loose order when a squadron’s aircraft is moved to another unit or is lost through an accident?

I did not think this, they are more likely but not necessarily to be have been allocated codes in delivery order… e.g.

Flights A – A-> M
Flights B N -> Z

remembering because the aircraft was built S8800 S8801 S8802 order ectc they may not be delivered in that order to the sqn -( assuming Sqn re-equipped straight from the Factory).. As some aircraft would need to take longer in test flight stage

Generally speaking (ie not Wellesley particularly) I was under the impression that code letters were allocated in serial order (not always in consecutive order), however it can soon loose order when a squadron’s aircraft is moved to another unit or is lost through an accident?

It is possible that K8529s ID was ‘F’!

FWIW, I’m not aware of aircraft being coded in serial sequence order; usually it was due to other factors, and without ‘being there’ they are normally impenetrable. (Senior pilot preference, admin allocations to flights on arrival, delays due to remedial work repairs etc, etc.)

Good luck with the pics!

John,

I have the newspaper coverage of the day, no pictures, however I do have a contact who is to provide me pictures of the crash in the next week or so,
fingers crossed,

Any luck with the crew’s service numbers?

I will keep you posted.

Chris

I can’t help as to the letter at this time but the incudent you refer was 5/5/38. during the 1938 Munich crisis the sqn wore the codes WT.-. Have you tried local newspaper coverage, there might even be a picture.

John

John,
Thank you for your reply,
It is possible that K8529s ID was ‘F’!

regards

Chris

It was a Wellesley Mk.1. Quite an accident prone a/c. They carried 35 in flight colours in front of the roundel and a letter after. K8530 was coded G for instance. It ended up in the Middle East with 47 Sqn and was SOC in 1941. K files.

John