Ive just been sent these photo by a modelling friend with instructions to find out more. The aircraft is apparently Z4048 which according to the note on the back of the original photo was being flown by No4 Observer Advanced Flying Unit at West Freugh. The date of the accident is the 3rd November 1943 and the pilot LAC Ken Boothman survived.
What is the story with the stripes on the rudder?
Who was operating the aircraft at the time? The codes look to be YE-Y.
This aircraft is believed to be built as a MK1 but later converted to a MKIIA series 1 but the tail wheel doesn’t appear right.
Does anyone know the location of the accident?
Was the aircraft repaired after this? My copy of the Francis K Mason Book has grown legs.
By: shepsair - 20th November 2012 at 22:10
Hurricane
Record card has it down as a Hurricane IA.
Was trying to work out where the pic was taken on google maps etc but it seems the site has been extensively alterated post war.
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image48969.html
MS
By: Ian Hunt - 20th November 2012 at 13:36
Yellow?
By: ollieholmes - 20th November 2012 at 00:26
Thank you all for your help. Does anyone know the eventual fate of this aeroplane? Also what colours do people interpret the stripes as?
By: ollieholmes - 14th November 2012 at 20:31
I have a copy of the Aeroplane Icons book but i did not think to look there.
By: antoni - 14th November 2012 at 20:21
There are a number of publications that list Hurricane production, e.g., The Modeller’s Datafile. Most recently (2011) The Aeroplane Icons series Hurricane The RAF’s Renowned World War 2 Workhorse. No longer on the shelves of WHS butr should still be available from the publishers Kelsey Publishing Ltd www.kelsey.co.uk About £8.
By: Graham Boak - 14th November 2012 at 16:25
If it is not recorded as being converted into a Mk.II then it probably wasn’t. However seeing the spinner wouldn’t help because, as pointed out, as some late Mk.Is had the “bullet” spinner more normally associated with the Mk.II, as in the photo posted above. The Mk.II-style tailwheel isn’t definitive, either.
What we need to see is the length of the panel over the fuel tank, with the number of fasteners, and the length of the fairing between the wing leading edge and the cowling.
By: ollieholmes - 14th November 2012 at 16:18
Thank you for that. Its a real shame we cannot see the spinner in the photos as that would help. Where did you find this information? Ive just located my copy of the Francis K Mason book and i cant find find Z4048 in there.
By: antoni - 14th November 2012 at 15:09
Z4048 was built as a Mk I, third production batch built by Gloster Aircraft during 1940 to 1941 under Contract No 85730/40/C.23a. Production was divided into four parts. Z4048 belongs to Part 3 (400 Hundred aircraft) delivered between December 1940 and March 1941. Serials start Z4022 and end Z4652.
Part 4, 600 aircraft, first 150 Mk Is. 39 MK IIA – serials start Z4940, 417 Mk IIB serials start Z4990.
To be Mk II, Z4048 would have to have been re-engined with a Merlin XX. Another explanation might be that it was fitted with a Rotol long-chord spinner and has been mistaken for a Mk II because of that.
By: Al - 14th November 2012 at 07:00
Z4048 has a lot of hits on Google – the Imperial War Museum collections have an image of it as a MK II…
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205126824
By: viscount - 13th November 2012 at 23:36
A bit of background to enlarge on and confirm previous posts.
My copy of ‘Squadron Codes 1937-1956’ Michael Bowyer & John Rawlings, 1979 states that “YE” was used by 289 Squadron from November 1941 to June 1945. No 289 being an AAC unit in the Lowlands of Scotland area operating types such as Oxford, Hurricane, Martinet and Vengeance.
‘The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force’ James Halley, Air Britain 1980 goes into more detail: No 289 Squadron was formed at Kirknewton on 20.11.41 as a anti-aircraft co-operation unit from No.13 Group AAC Flight. It maintained detachments at various airfields in southern Scotland and NE England for co-operation with anti-aircraft batteries in the area until the end of the war. On 26.6.45 the squadron disbanded. No badge.
Squadron HQ based at: formed Kirknewton 20.11.41, to Turnhouse 20.5.42, to Acklington 7.5.45, to Eshott 18.5.45, to Andover 5.6.45, disbanded 26.6.45.
Over the years a variety of types operated: Blenheim, Lysander, Hudson, Hurricane, Oxford, Defiant, Martinet, Vengeance and Spitfire. Various marks of Hurricane operated between 12.41 and 6.45, a representative aircraft being LF628 coded ‘YE:S’.
To kick-start discussion on the first question of the original post, although pure speculation on my part, would the rudder colours be to enhance identification while being operated on anti-aircraft co-operation duties, I wonder?
By: Ross_McNeill - 13th November 2012 at 22:40
Been reading too much of the Kittyhawk thread.
No pilot only fitter opening throttle on ground test.
No injuries
Canopy will close with gravity when sitting in P/O Prune perfect three pointer (both mains and prop boss)
Ross
By: SADSACK - 13th November 2012 at 22:34
re;
guess the pilot didn’t get out – the canopy is still closed
By: Ross_McNeill - 13th November 2012 at 22:19
Form 1180 says No.289 Squadron.
Accident happened on 2nd at 11:10 hrs on the ground at West Freugh.
Aircraft on ground test jumped chocks and hit telegraph pole.
Type given as Hurricane I.
Accident Cat AC
Ross
By: ollieholmes - 13th November 2012 at 22:16
All help is welcome.
By: DCK - 13th November 2012 at 22:10
I can’t help you I’m afraid, but I’ve taken the liberty of asking around a bit.
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November 13, 2012 at 9:59 pm