Can’t imagine letting the Spitfire threads die for too long 🙂
So in the interest of drawing out more photos, and if I’m lucky some more Spit XIIs, here’s the earliest photo of a 41 Squadron Spit XII I have.
Taken at Friston in May of 43. I can’t make out the serial other then it’s an MB serialed kite but it’s not MB854 EB-Z of August 44 time frame.
Of note for the modelers are the larger squadron code letters and, although not as clear on the scan, the rectangle mirror, instead of the cupped mirror seen in the later XII photos of April 44.
Dan
By: Dan Johnson - 20th January 2004 at 03:51
…..But the solution soon presented itself in the form of Bruce Moffett’s logbook. While going through the entries I was surprised to see that in January of 44 F/L Moffett made a tour of many of the USAAF fighter and bomber bases in MB858 EB-D. And one of the stops was Raydon, where the 357th and Merle Olmsted happened to be stationed at the time.
Funny how those things worked out. MB853 at the AFDU in late 44-45 became MB858 EB-D at Raydon on January 14, 1944
It was also a quick lesson in not believing everything I saw, while researching the XII
Dan
By: Dan Johnson - 20th January 2004 at 03:49
Another 41 Squadron Spit XII. I got a copy of this photo from Merle Olmsted who was a Assistant Crew Chief with the 357th FG. He took this photo.
I’d seen it first in MJF Bowyer’s book Aircraft for the Royal Air Force, which had a section specifically on the Spit XII. When I decided to become an XII fanatic this was the first thing I came across. In the book this photo is identified as MB853 taken at the AFDU sometime between October 44 and August 45. The caption also noted that the Spit still had 41 Squadron codes. That seemed strange, but who am I to argue. If nothing else it means a photo of MB853 which was flown by Peter Cowell many times and was coded EB-P.
When I talked to Merle Olmsted, he was surprised at the caption as he’d never been at the AFDU. He did remember that the photo was taken in January or February of 44 however.
Hmmm, strange, but ok, now we’re back to a 41 Squadron kite, but is it MB853?
How to figure it out was the problem……
Dan
By: Dan Johnson - 20th January 2004 at 03:25
They were really living the high life in the Spring of 43 🙂
B Flight 41 Squadron’s home.
Dan
By: Dan Johnson - 20th January 2004 at 03:19
The complete photo showing 4 pilots of 41 putting up the tents at Friston in May of 43.
Left to Right:
F/L Hugh Parry(POW 9/24/43), American F/O Herb Wagner(POW 6/2/44), P/O Leslie Prickett(POW 8/27/43), S/L “Ginger” Niel DFC
Dan
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January 20, 2004 at 3:16 am