Perhaps some of the very knowledgeable persons that frequent this forum could provide the answer to a question regarding the Hereford that has had me puzzled for sometime.
Although the type was not used by operational squadrons, just OTUs. Did it participate in the first of the 1000 bomber raids? I ask this as I have read that OTUs were used to provide extra aircraft and crews in order to provide enough aircraft to reach the magic number and have often wondered whether this included Hereford units.
Martin
By: steve_p - 9th March 2011 at 08:29
urby had great difficulty getting the 5 aircraft anywhere near to operational status because they simply didn’t have some of the necessary equipment on site – even basic stuff like oxygen and black paint to cover the yellow undersides, neither of which were needed at Jurby.
Did Hampdens at Jurby have yellow undersides? I thought that OTU aircraft wore the same schemes as front line squadrons.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th March 2011 at 07:31
As a follow up to this question; I am in the process of converting the recently re-released Airfix Hampden to a Hereford and am looking ahead to painting the thing. Other than the frequently shown picture of L6070/GL-A2, can anyone come up with some alternative serial number/code tie ins for the type? I am finding this fiendishly difficult to do, although I am the first to admit that I am no WWll expert. I had it in mind to do an aircraft from No. 16 OTU from Upper Heyford as this is close to my home town of Oxford.
Many Thanks
Martin
By: Derbyhaven - 2nd February 2011 at 09:09
5 AOS at Jurby were ordered to send 5 Hampdens and crews to Syerston in late May 1942 “for operational experience”. This is clearly connected with the 1000-bomber raid. The order to prepare the aircraft was received at Jurby on 21st May 1942, just over a week before the first raid. Jurby had great difficulty getting the 5 aircraft anywhere near to operational status because they simply didn’t have some of the necessary equipment on site – even basic stuff like oxygen and black paint to cover the yellow undersides, neither of which were needed at Jurby. Despite this the aircraft were ready by the 25th, when the order was received for them to proceed to Syerston as soon as possible.
All 5 aircraft had been converted from Herefords. One of them crashed on the way to Syerston and the rest didn’t take part in any operations due to their “lower technical efficiency and lack of operational equipment” to quote from a report written afterwards. Their engines’ oil consumption was too high for long flights, probably due to wear caused by the large number of short flights undertaken at the AOS.
All information from 5AOS ORB.
Maybe this is the closest that we’ll get to Herefords on a 1000-bomber raid?
By: John Aeroclub - 1st February 2011 at 18:28
Perhaps some of the very knowledgeable persons that frequent this forum could provide the answer to a question regarding the Hereford that has had me puzzled for sometime.
Although the type was not used by operational squadrons, just OTUs. Did it participate in the first of the 1000 bomber raids? I ask this as I have read that OTUs were used to provide extra aircraft and crews in order to provide enough aircraft to reach the magic number and have often wondered whether this included Hereford units.
Martin
Chorley shows no operational losses for Herefords of either 14 or 16 OTU’s.
John
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February 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm