There is no U in Beamont. I hate that. The only Beaumont in 609 was Gp Capt Stephen Beaumont, and that was right back at the beginning.
Hannants used to have a sheet, but thats no longer available. If I had my PC back (motherboard gone) I’d extract a bunch of images of R7752 PR-G off it. Beware. Bee had the cannon faired in, painted yellow, as was the spinner. Previous markings were Paul Richeys when he flew it. Alec Ingle was the last one to ‘own’ G when he took over from G. I wrote this a couple of months back in response to an email:
R7752 was delivered to 609 (West Riding) Squadron 0n 2nd June 1942. Initially it was flown by Paul Richey, before becoming the mount of Roland Beamont. I have pictures in both guises. The engine panel, on which Bee kept a tally of his train ‘kills’ etc is still in existence, and is now at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington. (Not, as still thought by many, at Hendon – it was ‘stolen’ back some years ago) I have colour pictures of this that I took myself last year. The panel is signed on the back by many of the pilots and ground officers of the time. The aircraft was then passed to Alec Ingle, who took over 609 when Bee went off for a rest as a test pilot at Hawkers. Not exactly restful! R7752 went on to 56 Squadron in July 1943, but in August was back at Hawkers, where it was stripped and used for parts. I have currently got photographs of R7752 in the air when flown by Richey and close ups on the ground when ‘owned’ by Bee, as well as various bits and pieces in books and the such like – its probably the single-most famous Tiffy that flew, and has been well documented. Revell produced a 1:32 scale kit, Hasegawa produced one in 1:48, and I think Aeromaster did decal sheets for it – certainly one of the decal companies do. From what I hear, the Revell decals are not overly accurate, but Hasegawa do have a good reputation and the kit is not that old, so perhaps of more interest. Be aware, also, that paint schemes and markings changed pretty often. At one point, PRG had 1ft wide yellow bands running back across the wings from by the inside cannons (until 3rd February 1943). The spinner varied from red tipped duck-egg-blue (this was Richey, and Bee initially I think) at one point to yellow. Also, cannons were initially unfaired – it was Bee’s idea to have them faired in, and I am pretty sure that his was the first Typhoon to have this modification – with fairings from a Spitfire being used. These were yellow. This shrouding later became standard. Also, the reflector gunsight was modified, part of it was blanked off with a slide in order to not blind the pilot when attacking ground targets at night – this was never an official mod on Typhoons, but became unofficially standard on 609’s. (The process and a description is in ‘My Part Of The Sky’ by Roland Beamont). Also, while Richey had it, at one point the ‘R7752’ was painted out. Black and white identification bands (not invasion stripes) and type ‘c’ roundels were also added, along with a yellow chin stripe, when in Bee’s possession. The cockpit did NOT have a blister in the top.
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