Hi chaps, I’m trying to find out squadron codes for the following aircraft from 609 (West Riding) Squadron on 30th September 1940, and would appreciate any knowledge on any of them. Rather than just list the aircraft, I’ll make it interesting and quote a primary source – contemporary diary of a groundcrew F/Sgt:
“30th Sept. Squadron scrambled in a hurry to patrol London. Returned in half an hour, nothing doing, but were immediately ordered to patrol Swanage and took off without re – fuelling, straight into the fray. Plt Off Staples X4173 ME109 Probably Destroyed, Plt Off Bisdee N3113 ME109 Damaged, Plt Off Appleby R6631 ME109 Destroyed, Plt Off Crook X4165 2 ME109’s Destroyed an Fg Off Nowierski R6961 ME109 Damaged. One aircraft short on this trip due to Plt Off Curchin taxying X4331, after landing from the London trip, into L1065, the only aircraft standing on the aerodrome at the time. X4331 airscrew and spinner written off, L1065 starboard mainplane ditto. In the afternoon, the usual tea – time scramble came along for a little do over Portsmouth. Plt Off Agazarian R6915 HEIII Damaged, Plt Off Crook X4165 ME109 Probably Destroyed, and Fg Off Nowierski R6961 ME109 Destroyed and one Probably Destroyed. N3113 (Plt Off Bisdee) shot through mainplanes, airscrew, fuselage, and tail unit, but got back safely. Few minor holes in R6961 (Fg Off Novo) fixed with patching technique. Plt Off Agazarian in R6915 had his glycol system shot away and force landed at Warmwell.”
Many thanks in advance for any help that you can give me on this,
Mark
By: Spitfire609 - 17th April 2016 at 12:30
Thanks Voytech. Here are some of the serials, with known codes, of the 609 Spits. I haven’t really looked into them regarding tie-ups as yet, but will get around to it one day!
Supermarine Spitfire MkI
K9815
K9825
K9841
K9997
L1007
L1008 PR-K
L1058
L1060
L1063
L1064
L1065 PR-E
L1068
L1069
L1071
L1081
L1082
L1083
L1084
L1086
L1087
L1088
L1095
L1096
N3023
N3024
N3025
N3113
N3202
N3203
N3222
N3223 PR-M
N3231
N3238
N3270
N3280
N3288
P9322
P9427
P9467
P9503
R6631 PR-Q
R6634
R6636
R6637
R6690
R6691 PR-J
R6692
R6699
R6706
R6769 PR-D
R6915 PR-U
R6922
R6961 PR-P
R6977
R6979
R6986
X4107
X4165
X4173
X4234 PR-B
X4331
X4471
X4472
X4539
X4560
X4586
X4587
X4588
X4590
X4598
X4773
X4778Supermarine Spitfire MkII
P7292
P7440
P7490
P7600
P7625
P7625
P7668
P7669
P7671
P7785
P7830 / 50
P7835
P7835
P7881
P8032
If any one can help by filling in the missing 609 codes in the linked document I sure would appreciate the help. I have added the information you have provided in this forum but there is still a lot of the 609 aircraft with missing Squadron codes.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XLgwxBmu48kzU31bVP4xhbTlP7CvwLx4jWajeOEqDQQ/edit?usp=sharing
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2013 at 20:38
No, but looking!
By: poacha38 - 11th December 2013 at 13:22
Has anyone identified a code for P9503 yet?
By: VoyTech - 9th December 2003 at 12:03
According to P/O Crook’s log book R6699 is PR-L, R6922 PR-T, and R6986 PR-S.
I also have X4471 PR-R, but I don’t recall where I got it from (may have been Crook’s log book either).
X4560 is PR-H, shown in the after-crash photo in Chris Goss’s ‘Brothers in Arms’.
By: Mark12 - 8th December 2003 at 23:45
Ant,
On the original you can even see the detail of the buckle on the back of the pilots goggles.
Notwithstanding my office, it is the only aircraft picture hung in the house.
Mark
By: Snapper - 8th December 2003 at 22:46
I missed that. X4590 WAS PR-F. Sydney Hill flew it.
By: Ant.H - 8th December 2003 at 22:42
Ah that picture! It’s possibly the ‘most enjoyable’ painting of a Spit I’ve ever seen, and one that I remember from my childhood when ‘Images of War’ was published, with this painting on the cover of the Battle of Britain edition. I dunno about anyone else,but I often find myself looking at paintings like this for quite some time, or should I say ‘looking into’. When you look into a picture like this you get the feeling of the real event, it’s quite peculiar. Other paintings with this quality include Michael Turner’s depiction of James Nicolson VC baling out of his blazing Hurricane (particularly when I view the original painting at Tangmere, where Nicolson’s burnt and bloodstained flying kit is displayed bemeath it.) It’s not just about looking at the painting and admiring the brushwork etc, but more about the ‘experience’ of viewing it.
By: Mark12 - 8th December 2003 at 22:29
X4590 has been painted PR-F so many times I suspect that it truly is its original code.
It even figures in the background of this painting of R6915/PR-U by Wilf Hardy painted in 1986. I purchased the original back then and to this day the superb draughtsmanship and detail accuracy still gives me the greatest of pleasure.
Mark
By: Snapper - 8th December 2003 at 21:44
Thanks Voytech. Here are some of the serials, with known codes, of the 609 Spits. I haven’t really looked into them regarding tie-ups as yet, but will get around to it one day!
Supermarine Spitfire MkI
K9815
K9825
K9841
K9997
L1007
L1008 PR-K
L1058
L1060
L1063
L1064
L1065 PR-E
L1068
L1069
L1071
L1081
L1082
L1083
L1084
L1086
L1087
L1088
L1095
L1096
N3023
N3024
N3025
N3113
N3202
N3203
N3222
N3223 PR-M
N3231
N3238
N3270
N3280
N3288
P9322
P9427
P9467
P9503
R6631 PR-Q
R6634
R6636
R6637
R6690
R6691 PR-J
R6692
R6699
R6706
R6769 PR-D
R6915 PR-U
R6922
R6961 PR-P
R6977
R6979
R6986
X4107
X4165
X4173
X4234 PR-B
X4331
X4471
X4472
X4539
X4560
X4586
X4587
X4588
X4590
X4598
X4773
X4778
Supermarine Spitfire MkII
P7292
P7440
P7490
P7600
P7625
P7625
P7668
P7669
P7671
P7785
P7830 / 50
P7835
P7835
P7881
P8032
By: VoyTech - 8th December 2003 at 11:37
Chris Goss has quoted L1065 as PR-E in his books on 609.
The log book of P/O Crook (can be seen at the Public Record Office or whatever it is called now) tells R6631 is PR-Q and
R6961 is PR-P.
I am also eager to learn other 609 codes of the period.
Adalbert
By: Ant.H - 11th November 2003 at 23:20
I don’t know if it’s any help,but the Spitfire at Point Cook,Australia, is painted to represent R6915 and it wears the codes PR-U.I dunno how thorough thier research was on the colour scheme,but it might be worth following up.
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November 11, 2003 at 10:45 pm