Mystery Bristol Bulldog & Fairey 'Something'!

James, though I’ve never noticed that dash on RAF aircraft I have noticed it on early RNZAF Tiger Moths sometimes, where they would have say NZ-795 rather than the customary NZ795. I’ve often wondered why that style was sometimes applied and though it’s probably irrelevant to your query, it shows that the dash has been seen elsewhere.

Hmmm, thanks! And what about that dash? I don’t recall seeing a dash actually painted on the a/c?

Dash – sometimes there appears to have been a little bit of creative separation of the letters and numbers in codes. I note that in Robertson’s book (quoted above) there is a picture of a Vernon marked JR-6904. There is also a picture of a Wapiti K-1300 of 27 Squadron. It just seems that the regs may say one thing but people do other things. I would like to see that photo of the Gordon if you track it down.

Oddly and perhaps a coincidence – according to Robertson’s British Military Aircraft Serials 1878-1987 Gordon K2603 was rebuilt in service. Might be a typo, or p’raps the serial on the aircraft in the photo was repainted with an error.

Hmmm, thanks! And what about that dash? I don’t recall seeing a dash actually painted on the a/c?

As Malcolm has said the “R” addition to a serial was used to denote a ‘rebuilt at local depot airframe’ and was very common in the 20’s but not certain about the 30’s use as K2630 was built in 32 and written off in 36 .

John

Oddly and perhaps a coincidence – according to Robertson’s British Military Aircraft Serials 1878-1987 Gordon K2603 was rebuilt in service. Might be a typo, or p’raps the serial on the aircraft in the photo was repainted with an error.

The ‘R’ addition to the serial no was stilll in usee in WWII as there is Hurricane shown before and after repair at No1 CRU and the serial number has collected the R in the after photo. Sorry forgot to say, the pictures are in ‘The Narrow Margin’ if anyone is interested

Bulldog K1628 stalled on approach at night, Port Sudan 1936. K files.

John

Terrific stuff chaps.

I was told he’d serving in the mid east, but my assumption was during W.W.II probably wrong from this – and this could fit (if it’s Bulldog K1628) but for him to have qualified in Australia in 1935/6 and got to the mid east in 36 is pretty tight.

Unfortunately the photos are with the pilot’s descendants who are only on holiday in Australia, and I wasn’t able to arrange scans today. I’m sure a high res scan would give the full Bulldog serial. There were other interesting photos as well.

I’ll contact the family and see what we can do next.

Thanks a lot!

As Malcolm has said the “R” addition to a serial was used to denote a ‘rebuilt at local depot airframe’ and was very common in the 20’s but not certain about the 30’s use as K2630 was built in 32 and written off in 36 .

John

The second query relates to a shot of a fuselage section of what’s presumably a complete crashed aircraft on some rocks. It looks like a Fairey Gordon or similar, but there wasn’t enough to tell. What really caught my attention was the serial, which was KR-2630 – Not a format I recognise as likely or possible in the inter-war RAF (or RAAF for that matter.) Yes, it did include the ‘-‘ in the middle as well.

Over to our experts!

The “R” in the serial means that it was rebuilt – started as K2630 then was rebuilt at a depot, p’raps after an accident or just the need to keep it in service, money being tight. Common practice in the 20s etc.

James.

There are 4 likely candidates starting with K1623, K1626, K1628(Port Sudan 3 Sqn) and K1629.
Is it possible to scan both pics? K2630 was a Gordon and this was written off at Aswan whilst attached to 3 Sqn.

John