Can any one shed any light on the following Hurricane serial.
In the background of this SEAC P47 photo is a Hurricane, with the aid of a magnifying glass the serial reads K2944 code letter S.
The photo was taken at either Pallam or Risalpur.
The photographer was with 353 squadron at the time.
By: Septic - 27th October 2003 at 23:21
Thanks Geoff,
you have been a great help. My friends late grandfather was with 1331 and I have been trying to fill in the gaps about his time in the RAF.
By: von Perthes - 27th October 2003 at 18:23
Septic,
No 1331 CU was formed 1/9/44 in No 223 Group at Mauripur to train crews for ferrying duties and convert them to new types of aircraft; to Risalpur 4/9/44 (and absorbed Check and Conversion Flight there) in No 223 Group, later 229 Group; disbanded 15/1/46. [Reformed 15/12/46 from the Halifax Training Unit at Dishforth, U.K. The rest of the unit’s history is in the U.K. disbanded for good 5/1/48.]
A/C used plus a few examples (in FE) were Liberator III, IV (BZ925), Dakota I, III (FD883), Wellington XVI (DV920), Beaufighter VI, X (RD266), Mosquito III, VI (LR558), Thunderbolt I, II (KL344/A), Hurricane IIc (LA143), Harvard IIb (FE668) Spitfire VIII (JG375), Oxford (NM462/A) Vengance II, IV (AN666), Mustang IV (KM557/AA).
The above info comes from ‘Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units’ by Ray Sturtivant, John Hamlin, and James J Halley & is published by Air-Britain. In a nutshell, it covers all RAF units, other than squadrons, which had at least one aircraft. The above info on 1331 CU gives a typical entry. It really is a gold mine of information you can’t find elsewhere.
Sadly, I can’t help with info on 353 sqdn, sorry.
Geoff.
By: Septic - 26th October 2003 at 23:29
Thanks Geoff,
It all makes sense now, I was convinced it read K2944 which I knew could not be right hence the question.
Do you have any further information on 1331 CU, or on 353 Squadron.
Is there a particular book worth looking out for.
By: von Perthes - 26th October 2003 at 23:02
Septic,
I think you’ve misread the s/n, as Hurricane IIc KZ944 served with No 1331 Conversion Unit, based at Risalpur from 4/9/44. This unit disbanded 15/1/46, but KZ944 was not SoC until 8/10/46.
K2944 was a Vickers Vildebeast II, missing on a night navex near Horsboro’ Light, Singapore, 4/4/38.
Geoff.
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October 26, 2003 at 10:04 am