I’ve signed up for a D-Day group build on a modelling forum, and the proviso is that the aircraft/vehicle had to have actually been present on or over the beaches on D-Day itself.
While I thought about doing one of two known D-Day veteran survivors (AB910 and BL370), I’m seriously considering doing Spitfire Vb X4272 of 501 Squadron.
The only problem is, I don’t know if the squadron actually took part in any beachhead patrols.
I know they were based at Friston at the time, and that on D-Day +2 David “Foob” Fairbanks brought down a Messerschmitt 109 while flying X4272, but I’m struggling to find definitive evidence on Google that they were over the beaches on the day itself.
Anyone able to verify this?
By: DazDaMan - 1st June 2014 at 04:25
Many thanks for that, Edgar. Looks like I shall be building X4272 after all! 🙂
By: Edgar Brooks - 31st May 2014 at 23:41
X4272 “J” flew twice on the 6th., piloted by F/Lt. J.R.Davies 04.00 – 06.00, and, flown by P/O R.H.Bennett 09.50 – 12.05. Both patrols are listed as “uneventful.”
Edgar
By: DazDaMan - 28th May 2014 at 10:17
I hadn’t thought about checking the ORB, I just hoped there would be some definite proof of it out there.
If you wouldn’t mind checking, Edgar, that’d be awfully good of you. This is only for a model build, so there’s no pressure (like I say, I do have a back-up plan if it turned out this Spit didn’t fly that day).
By: FiltonFlyer - 28th May 2014 at 10:09
Although “Fear Nothing” does not mention X4272 as being with 501, other sources do, so it is more likely to be an omission from the book (there are no X…. serials listed in the Spitfire Vb list). As Edgar Brooks says, the ORB really needs to be checked to confirm.
A
By: Edgar Brooks - 28th May 2014 at 09:58
In “Aircraft For The Many,” Michael Bowyer lists X4272 as coded “J,” but also says “dates uncertain,” which doesn’t seem to take you any further forward, though he also shows an * beside its serial, which (he says) signifies that it did operate on the 6th. Has anyone checked the ORB for you? (I ask, because, if not, I’m planning a visit to Kew on Saturday.)
By: DazDaMan - 28th May 2014 at 09:26
Thanks for that, Andrew.
Damn, I was hoping to build X4272 for this as it had a long and illustrious career (especially as it started like as a Mk.I!).
Oh well, Plan B it is then!
By: FiltonFlyer - 28th May 2014 at 09:11
“Fear Nothing”, the history of 501 Squadron by David Watkins says that on D-Day, 6th June …
” … at 03.00 hours, 501 were airborne with 350 Squadron patrolling the eastern end of the assault beaches, acting as low cover for the ships and landing craft. The patrol was carried out without incident, as were three other patrols flown by the Squadron between 10.20 – 11.10 hours, 18.40 – 19.30 hours, and finally between 22.50 – 23.30 hours.”
Although it goes on to mention “Foob” Fairbanks on 8th June, it doesn’t mention X4272 and that serial is not mentioned in the Squadron run down at the end.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
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May 28, 2014 at 8:30 am