RAAF Hawker Typhoon in Western Desert

DK296 finally departed at 01.34 hrs DBST on 20/4/44, arriving at Moscow at 04.52 hrs GMT. The crew comprised Sen/Lt Polosouchin (pilot), and Lt Kekishev (navigator).

Courtesy of ‘Unter Rotem Stern’ by HJ Mau & HH Stapfer.

Mark

Cranswick,

According to the 305 FTU (Errol) ORB, three Mossies were used by the unit, only one eventually going to the Soviet Union. The first, DZ349, was only with the unit for about a month during aug/sept 1943. Of the other two, HJ961 was used to train the ferry crew, while DK296 which arrived at Errol 12/8/43 sat about waiting to depart.

DK296 finally departed at 01.34 hrs DBST on 20/4/44, arriving at Moscow at 04.52 hrs GMT. The crew comprised Sen/Lt Polosouchin (pilot), and Lt Kekishev (navigator).

The primary role of 305 FTU was to prepare Russian crews for the ferrying of Albermarles to the Soviet Union, and once training was complete, to despatch them via the northern route over the Baltic. By the time of the Mosquito delivery flight, the Albermarle deliveries had ended, and once the Mossie left, the unit rapidly closed down.

Best wishes
Steve P

Thanks Steve, I would be interested.
Cranswick

The unit that despatched Albermarles to the Soviets (305 FTU) also sent a Mossie. I have a copy of the ORB somewhere so can dig out the details if you want.

Best wishes
Steve P

Middle East Tiffie – new dream?

Having burst one bubble let me blow a new one. How about the other Typhoon that went to the Middle East? There is correspondence at Kew from the Air Attache in Moscow stating he was under pressure to organise examples of the Allies’ “latest types” for the Russians to examine. Eventually it was decided (late in the war) to send an early Mosquito, a Merlin-engined Halifax and a Typhoon! I do not know about the first two but a Typhoon (RB379) was eventually dispatched to Alexandria and prepared at 108 MU, El Firdan. From there it was delivered (via Turkey?) to the USSR on 20 July 1945. But what then? Nothing heard. Perhaps, at the back of a hangar … or wheels-up on some remote tundra … More likely the Ruskies were so hacked off at this ‘latest’ example of Western technology it went straight in the melting pot. But ….
Cranswick

Stig
Well spotted. Finger trouble again; the serials were reversed in my mail. However, although (as the Typhoon File says) R8891 was officially SOC on 31 August 44, there is an accident card which shows it was actually destroyed in the crash on 7 August 44.
Cranswick

Cranswick

Odd. According to Air Britain Typhoon File, they quote exactly the opposite SOC dates regarding DN323 and EJ906. Also be aware of that the record card for R8891 states it was SOC on 31.8.44 as well.

DN323 SOC 31.8.44
EJ906 SOC 1.2.44

Cheers
Stig

I’m gutted to hear that these Tiffies were definitely scrapped. I always held out the faint hope that something remained of them out in the sands.

Desert Typhoons; non-survivors

Sorry to burst the bubble. The 3 Typhoons were R8891 (crashed on air test at 107 MU, 7 August 44, Flg Off F.R.Barker killed). DN323 SOC at 161 MU 1 February 1944. EJ906 Cat E (possibly 107 MU) 31 August 1944. Excellent article on the trials in Air International , November 1992, by Aussie enthusiast Mike Flanagan.

They were all fitted with filters which operated when on the ground. Photos of this device are elusive but seems to have been similar if not identical to the filter fitted to the Tempest VI (also camera shy). It is very difficult to see in photos as it was located beneath the centre-section, immediately behind the air intake fairing. I have noticed the device on three late-war Typhoon photos – two of which were in unit service (not R&D) – one of those was an ex-trials aircraft, the other unidentified. Hopefully someone out there knows more?

Cranswick

Thanks Dave, that’s very interesting. Did the Typhoon require any sort of desert filter like the Spitfire and Hurricane did? None seems present on the one in the photo.

RAAF 451 Squadron…

Dave,

451 was the squadron responsible for testing the Typhoon in desert conditions. 3 were transferred out there (off the top of my head DN323 was one of them). Spares were also shipped along with an RAF Typhoon pilot to train the squadron along with a Napier and Hawker engineer to train on the maintenance side. I did attempt to contact some members of the squadron from the time the Typhoons were there but their numbers are thin on the ground and of the current members one shipped out the day they arrived and another arrived just after they finished. The trial was a complete success and I am told that the pilots were happy with the Typhoon. Unfortunately for them the Typhoon was required in more numbers in the European theatre so they were not able to spare them for the African campaign…by the time there were sufficient spare Typhoons to send out there was no need for them in Africa.

Their last base was somewhere near Alexandria (I do have the airfield designation somewhere) which was situated not far from the Libyan border. Contrary to orders 451 continued to fly the Typhoons until they ran out of spares and were unable to keep them in service and as far as I can tell they were then left on the airfield. There is no record of them being transferred back to the UK (they would probably now be classed as war weary and not worth the effort) and they were subsequently struck off charge (again I have the movement cards somewhere but off the top of my head it was after the war that this happened). It would be nice to think of 3 complete Typhoons on a desert airstrip somewhere but with the airfield being close to the coast and close to Libya I am lead to believe that the scrap metal merchants would have done their job very well!!!

There is a fair bit of information available about the desert Typhoons…just not to hand at the moment.

Hope this helps
Dave