Kittyhawk?

Tomahawk photo

Just a thought, could this photo be from British Army?

If not then I agree with Ian and poss Italian

Buz

I acquired the photo from Germany, but the uniform didn’t seem right for the German army or airforce, so Italian seems a good guess!

Tomahawk and Sqdn codes

Hi Guys

What Mark12 states is quite correct on the owners of the Tomahawk in the photo. 4SAAF codes were DX until approx April 1942 (They changed before rxing Kittyhawks), when they changed to KJ. Also an number of other Sqdns changed their codes at the same time, and these seem to have been missed for some reason.

Those that changed their codes are as follows.

2SAAF from TA to DB
4SAAF from DX to KJ
94 From FZ to GO (they used to have GO codes)
260 from MF to HS
and finally
450 (RAAF) from DJ to OK

Buz

The uniform says to me – Italian, but I’ve really nothing to back this up.

Moggy
Cyber-Terrapin

ian_st

4 Sqd SAAF operated the Tomahawk IIB between October 1941 and June 1942.

The bases of operation through that time window were Amriya, LG101, LG110, LG121, El Adam, Gazala III, Mechili, Msus, Antelat, Benina, Martuba, Tmimi, LG110, LG115, Gasr El Arid, Gambut II, LG167, LG176, LG76, LG115, LG09, LG105 & LG85.

The Western Desert was a very fluid theatre. This aircraft has the look of an abandoned ‘Hangar Queen’ to me. So backwards and forwards with the ‘Front’ and therefore the photo could be from either side.

So you have the choice of UK, South African, Italian or German for the guy in the uniform. I am not too familiar with uniforms.

If that is an original photo the best clue might be the photographic paper. The Germans seemed to favour those ‘crinkle cut’ papers although they were available in the UK.

When 4 SAAF was withdrawn to re-equip with Kittyhawks in June 1942 the code letters were changed to KJ.

Mark

Mark 12 – excellent stuff, and I thought this was a difficult one!

Any idea on when / why this aircraft came to grief.

Is it possible to say what nation / armed service the guy in the photo belonged to?

Thanks

Ian

Kityhawk.

Mark 12
I’m impressed!
S/no as well.
I thought 4Sqn SAAF used KJ codes.
What book/ref are you using.
I always refer to Squadron Codes 1937-56
by M.J.F. Bowyer and John D.R. Rawlings.
Quite ancient now but usually reliable.
Just curious.
Regards
Andy:)

SAAF

4 Sqd. of SAAF – Tomahawk II in MedME – AN249 DX-P.

Mark

UX ?

Kittyhawk.

Do you think that Squadron code is DX?
If it is I can’t find a match for any Kittyhawk or Tomahawk squadron.
RAF, RAAF or SAAF.
Best guess anyone?
Andy 🙁