Hi everyone,
firstly just to introduce myself, and congratulate everyone on a great forum. I have found the reading enthralling.
I have found the aviation topic both fascinating and frustrating, but it has taken hold.
I am currently researching the loss of my wifes Great Uncle. he was a Mid Upper gunner with 428 Squadron RCAF.
what I would like to ask everyone is:
Is it possible to find the details of parts serial numbers and/or engine numbers for a Halifax V bomber? Does anyone know if any indexes of such information is still in existance? Or if there is anyone who may have taken it upon themselves to locate this information in the past?
The Halifax in question was built by Fairey Aviation (Stockport) and delivered to 428 Squadron RCAF around Aug 1943. According to “Lost Bombers” it was part of a batch of 200.
I have the crew and flight details from BCL. She was lost on the 22/23/9/1943, hit by Flak after the bomb run but was reported as lost without trace.
Any help in locating these details or a pointer in the right direction it would be very much appreciated.
Regards
Nick
By: Nick1 - 1st May 2009 at 20:16
Thanks Ian for the info. I have BCL details but 96 narrows the number down abit from 200 that I had found. So roughly 16 a/c per month which means that up until its loss LK635 was one of about 32 delivered from Fairey before 22 Sept 1943.
Cees: I understand what your saying, I have sent an e-mail to Hendon and hopefully they will hold what I need. From an eyewitness account LK635 exploded mid air, so the search area could in theory be scattered over many miles of German countryside. The search area if one was to be carried out has not yet been decided due to these circumstances. The early collection of technical data is for me a way of carrying on research whilst other avenues are confirmed or dismissed.
This for me is totally new ground and I am grateful for more knowledgable researchers who, have carried out far more than me.
Many thanks for all your input any other suggestions on what would be available would be very welcome.
Regards
Nick
By: Cees Broere - 1st May 2009 at 12:35
RAF Form 78 has the engine numbers listed (in theory that is), during the massive aircraft prodcution at some point the engine numbers weren’t noted anymore. Contact the RAF Museum for information about this form.
Besides that, you need to find the crashsite and engine numbers to confirm the identity of the wreck otherwise it’s useless. As said if the engine numbers aren’t listed on the form, this is a dead end.
Cheers
Cees
By: ian_ - 30th April 2009 at 21:48
Hello Nick, there is a small amount of info in Air Britain’s LA-LZ serial log: LK635. one of 96 Halifax Vs delivered between August 1943 and January 1944 by Faireys, Stockport. Missing (Hannover). Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses will have crew details. Good luck with your search.
By: Nick1 - 30th April 2009 at 17:08
Hi Bill
Tried to e-mail you but it was returned.
Throughout my research into this lost aircraft I have come across the same problem over and over again. It seems that someone or something does not want the story to be told. Archives not available due to red tape or destroyed is the usual stumbling block.
Not sure what the serial number would be (aviation is not my strong point) all I have is that it was a Halifax V – LK635 (would that be the serial number?) coded NA-H. Delivered by Fairey to 428 Sqn RCAF Aug-Sept 1943.
Not much to go on but if I have not given you the number you need let me know and I will endeavour to look through my notes or search the internet for it.
I would be very grateful for your help with anything concerning this aircraft, no matter how small.
Hope to hear from you soon
Regards
Nick
By: Billbattle - 8th April 2009 at 20:47
Fairey-built Halifax
Nick – I have always had a great love of anything built by Fairey and have been accumulating information and photos for over 50 years. I have written numerous articles/books about Fairey aircraft.
The answer to your first question is that when aircraft were built all parts had a number stamped on them and were traceable. However, with the end of World War II all such logbooks relating to aircraft at the Stockport/Ringway factories, including the Halifax, Beaufighter and Fairey aircraft, were put in wartime air raid shelters on the old site and forgot. The whole area was leveled and built on so the existing stuff is now under the suburbs of Stockport. Fairey also had factories at other sites around Stockport but all such records joined the air raid shelters or were destroyed. Fairey also had factories at Hayes in Middlesex and Hamble but they left Stockport/Ringway to their own devices. I visited all the main sites many years ago before Fairey sold out to Westland or became Fairey Engineering at Stockport. I used these opportunities to record as much information as possible, which has paid off. Much of the information I used in my books is no longer available – Westland, on acquiring Fairey, destroyed many of the archives, as did a couple of zealous Fairey directors at Hayes.
I have copies of some of the Fairey test pilots flying logbooks at Ringway and if you let me have the serial number of the Halifax in question I will see whether there are any entries for the machine in question.
Regards for now or I can be contacted off-line at [email]william@harrison_site.net[/email]
Battlebill
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March 26, 2009 at 5:21 pm