AVRO Anson…help end an argument.

Whats 5p in Canadian?

Well if the Canadian dollar rate is linked in any way to the US one, about 390 dollars today and rising 😀

Moggy

Thank you again Moggy

Whats 5p in Canadian? (LOL) I will find a copy.

and thanks to you agian OHOPE

Thanks again

Tom H

Valiant Wings mentioed two claimed downed on 29 May , but these could be misidentified .
There is a Mk1 nearing complete restoration with turret in NZ .

From Combat Report
(The RAF and the Fall of France)
Kate Caffery

A book that has little to recommend it. Pay no more than 5p.

It was midday on 31 May before the weather was clear enough…. where by now every south-eastern airfield was packed with an astonishing assortment of aircraft. This mixture was reflected in some of the sorties. At dusk a motley collection – Blenheims, Ansons of Coastal Command, Fairey Albacores and Blackburn Skuas of the Fleet Air Arm – returned to attack the German troop formations. Ansons and Hudsons of Coastal Command began what came to be called The Sands Patrol, flying at their slow speed over the beaches and shipping.. Some of the Ansons had been hurriedly fitted with machine guns in their side windows.

Moggy

We are lucky to have a couple of late Mk Ansons around but oh to have a turretted early Mk rumbling above our heads!

Thanks Moggy

Even just the name of the book would be great as I can chase it down from there.

TomH

OHOPE

Thanks as well and I have seen those materials, I am just frustrated that I know I have read of the missions during the Battle of France along with the Fairey Battle that were in action at the time….hopefully Moggy will be able to get me the name of the book he was reading and it will confirm my reading.

You have to admire those that flew into combat of any sort with pre war already obsolete designs like the Anson and the Battle.

Very brave and courageuos crews that deserve every allocade given.

Thanks Gentlemen

Tom H

Perhaps I misunderstood, but I once heard that the Anson competed with the DH Rapide for the contract. Is this correct? I was once told that during one wartime christmas celebration one pilot managed to loop an Anson. Surely not possible?

Best wishes,

Dean

Not conclusive , but a look through Bomber Command losses for that period shows several lost but none on operations . A similar search through Coastal Commands losses show a few lost on shipping strikes , one described as lost while dive bombing !

I do remember reading of a number of specific “bombing” missions during the Battle of France, I just cannot find the darn reference.

Tom H

I did find actual date reference to one of the Dunkirk area sorties in a book last night after I had switched off the computer. It’s at home now, I’ll post it tonight.

Moggy

Thank you Moggy

I do have those references, what I have been trying to find is the actual references I once read on RAF bombing missions using the Anson in 39-40.

But thank you for your assistance.

OHOPE

Again I appreciate your help. I am very very familiar with the Anson as I did help restore one some years back (my part was very minor) and my family has a history both wartime and post war with the aircraft.

But thank you again

I do remember reading of a number of specific “bombing” missions during the Battle of France, I just cannot find the darn reference.

Thanks agian Gentlemen

Tom H

It had a small bomb bay in each wing root .

Courtesy of ‘Scramble’

In its original coastal reconnaissance role, it was designed to disable submarines. It was not expected to fight it out with enemy aircraft, but to run for home with a top speed of 300 km/hr. Nevertheless there were occasions when it had a more attacking role. It was used during the Dunkirk evacuation, on 1 June 1940 an Anson of 500 squadron was attacked by three Messerschmitt Bf109s and managed to shoot down two of them, and in the same mode there is an apparently reliable report of three Ansons being attacked by 10 Messerschmitt 109s with the Ansons managing to shoot down three of them.

And the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum

The Anson was considered obsolete at the beginning of the war, however eleven Squadrons were still serving with Coastal Command. They were employed in patrolling the Coastal areas of the North Sea watching for enemy surface raiders besides doing convoy and anti-submarine patrols. One of the first attacks on a U-Boat was carried out in September 5, 1939 by K6187 No. 206 Squadron, which dropped two 100 lb. Bombs. The Anson aircraft engaged in a number of combats with Luftwaffe aircraft. No.500 Squadron , based at Detling, fitted their aircraft with extra guns, one on each side of the aircraft, and shot down several Bf 109 fighters during the Dunkerque evacuation. The Anson of Coastal Command were eventually replaced with the Beaufort, Hudson, and Blenheim, but they continued to operate with Command Operational Training Units.

The Anson also played a small part with Bomber Command during the early months of the war. The first Squadrons to receive the Anson were No. 58, 61, 144, and 21. They stayed on strength for a few months until replaced by the Whitley and the Wellington. The Anson remained in service in Bomber Command in a variety of roles during the war.

Moggy