Rocs?

There’s a photo in the FAAM collection which is reproduced on p.38 of my book on the Skua and Roc (MMP 2007) which shows a close-up of the markings on the side of Roc RO-150. This shows a rough swastika-shape on the white disc, slightly darker than the disc itself, which isn’t visible on the wide shot. This suggests to me that the swastika was applied then painted over in distemper for the transit flight.

5MU sounds a better bet.
Ignoring those that are recorded as being there for just a short while before going on to a recognisable unit:
L3076 arr 26/7/39 next 6/40
L3077 arr 2/8/39 next 3/41
L3078 arr 29/7/39 next 11/39
L3110 arr 24/10/39 next 7/41
L3111 arr –“—“— next 7/40
L3112 no info next 6/40
L3113 —“—“— next 9/40
L3119 arr 13/11/39 next 10/3/41
L3120 –-“—“—“—next 11/40
L3121 arr 1/12/39 next 8/40
L3122 –“—“—“—“—“—
L3137 arr 30/12/39 next 6/40
L3138 –“—“—“– next 7/40
L3139 —“—“– next 6/40
L3140 —“—“– next 10/40
L3142 no info next 6/40
(Those marked no info could have been at 5MU since they were next to other Rocs that were, but don’t take my word for this as gospel. I’m just groping in the dark, here!)

I know that the Fleet Air Arms records were (mostly) disposed of, so there will be gaps, but I would have put the big gaps above down to attrition replacements since 5MU was not alone in this sort of thing – the fields of various maintenance units must have been covered in Blackburn Rocs at the beginning of 1940! Then of course was the fact that the Roc was not a very useful combat aircraft (for Britain, anyway) and therefore available to pass on to Finland, due to the vast numbers sitting in maintenance units.

5MU Kemble ORB states the following……….

19.2.40 Preparation of 12 Blackburn Roc aircraft for Finland commenced.

6.3.40 5 Roc’s dispatched for Finland.

8.3.40 5 More Roc aircraft dispatched for Finland.

A quick look through the Blackburn Roc pages in FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 suggests that whilst lots of Rocs went to lots of MUs, only a (relative) few went to 20MU, and those that did (L3101-L3109) were at best there up to Feb 1940, ie before the arrangement was finalised with Finland. Date range is (for example) L3101 20MU 8-18/10/39 then to RNDA (Royal Navy Deposit Account, apparently for FAA aircraft held in storage by the RAF) 20MU until issued to 806NAS 8/2/40. Other examples are L3104 20MU 8/10/39 then 759NAS 11/11/39, or L3108 and L3109 which jointly were 23/10/39 then 2AACU 1/11/39. The only possibility is L3107 which was delivered 20MU 18/10/39 then PD (Papers Deposited, essentially where the SOC date was unknown but the aircraft was no longer a viable concern) 5/9/40, with no other details.
This is the case for all Rocs as detailed in the book: the Roc was delivered to its MU then within a few months it was delivered to its operating unit or. in a few cases, a storage section at an FAA station before onward dispatch to its unit. If the details are correct in the book then maybe it was another maintenance unit that was to supply Rocs from its stock, or maybe the Air Enthusiast writer was right and the records did not mention each Roc being dispatched to 20MU.

Now, this requires that FAA Aircraft 1939-1945 is correct despite the fact that there is no mention made of this event that involved FAA aircraft (my copy in dated 1995, so it might be that any update does mention the Finnish affair); I have no idea when this event surfaced, although I have a copy of FAA In Camera 1912-1996 by Roger Hayward which has this picture in it (FAAM ref:ROC/39), so it has been around since at least 1996.

I have no idea how to access any ORBs, unfortunately, but would be interested if anyone can give them a glance.

I can’t add any specific identities to the Rocs earmarked for Finland, but the July/August 2001 of Air Enthusiast states that all the aircraft were to come from stocks held by 20 MU, Aston Down. It might be possible to chase up the identities and other details if you (or someone else on the forum) can get access to 20 MU’s ORB’s.

I know that at least four were painted in Finnish markings since they made it as far as Dyce, Scotland, en-route.
They had either paper or linen/fabric pasted over the national markings (or maybe whitewash) and wore serials RO-141, RO-143, RO-147 plus one other. As can be seen, they carried both paint schemes worn by the Fleet Air Arms Rocs.

Just white discs. I don’t think they would have painted blue swastikas on them. IIRC it was the same with the Blenheims they supplied to Finland, it was left to the Finns to finish the national markings.

Found this What If… whilst researching for this thread:
http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=185434&page=29

Without realising what that post was about it initially caused me great confusion – I knew the Finns did not get any Rocs, but the idea that they might adapt and improve them rather than curse their rotten luck is interesting. Finland was not the luckiest of nations regarding some of their aviation acquisitions, but despite the fact that everyone else used the Brewster Buffalo more or less because there was nothing else available they used it with much success, so the idea of them using it against the Soviets is food for thought.

Genuinely interesting stuff

It is always good to see the lesser types discussed.

Regrettably my now-suspended book missed all of the above. It will be interesting to see how this thread develops.

Moggy