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  • Roobarb

Dakota FZ692 "Kwicherbichen", info needed

As part of an ongoing project I am currently researching details of the markings and colour scheme worn by RAF Dakota III FZ692 “Kwicherbichen” of 233 Sqn. The aeroplane is quite well known and has appeared in several books and magazine articles on the type. Whilst it has been relatively easy to establish the overall colours and layout the artwork and other details are proving more challenging. I am interested to hear from any other forum members who may have pursued this scheme for their own projects, be it plastic modelling, R/C model construction or Squadron or type history research.
Primary points in question are:

1.There is reference to the spinners and possibly the hinged nose section being painted yellow. This is not unknown on Dakotas as part of their markings, as belonging to a particular flight within a Squadron. Other aircraft have been noted with Red spinners, but the spinners on the existing image of FZ692 match the shading of the yellow on the outer band of the fuselage roundel.
2.The artwork aft of the cockpit indicates several mission symbols. Two 250lb shaped images and one larger, say 500lb. Two parachute symbols. A freight crate/box shape. Five red crosses within a four section segmented circle, most likely indicating the casevac return flights being undertaken by the machine from the Normandy landing grounds at this period of operation.
3.There is however one mystery symbol that even after scrutiny of a high resolution copy of the original IWM image cannot at present be deciphered. It looks like it could be a representation of an infantryman crouching and turning with his rifle held across his chest

Any serious thoughts on these markings would be most welcome.

Original IWM online image is viewable here:
http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=PREV_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwmcollections.org.uk%2FqryPhotoImg.php&TN=Uncat&SN=AUTO14783&SE=4863&RN=1&MR=25&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=phoResults&EF=&DF=phoDetails&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=1&ID=&MF=WPENGMSG.INI&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=0&FG=0&QS=

Many thanks

Roobarb

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By: Pen Pusher - 13th January 2011 at 20:24

It was still flying in Canada in 2004 airliners.net

Brian

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By: Jimbo27 - 13th January 2011 at 19:44

I’m just worried what the name means.

Every time I Google it, (and I admit I had to Google it several times, 😀 it shows a female “bikini team” ?

Not aircrew humour I hope…:D

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By: Roobarb - 13th January 2011 at 19:34

No takers then? I bet if I’d said I needed some help with a Spitfire instead of Dakota it would be different… Oh well, I did ask. 🙁

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