A freshly manufactured prize, an 8″ x 12″ glossy photographic print of Hawker Typhoon R7752 PR-G of 609 (West Riding) Squadron. Aircraft details as follows:

R7752 was delivered to 609 (West Riding) Squadron on 2nd June 1942. Initially, coded PR-G it was flown by Squadron Leader Paul Richey (‘G’ was Richey’s favoured letter since his days in the Battle of France with No. 1 Squadron), before becoming the mount of Squadron Leader Roland Beamont, when he took command of the Squadron. The engine panel, on which ‘Bee’ kept a tally of his victories is still in existence, and is now in the 609 Squadron memorial room at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington. (having previously been displayed at the RAF museum at Hendon) The panel is signed on the back by many of the pilots and ground officers of the time, who presented the panel to Bee when he left the squadron.The aircraft was then passed to Squadron Leader Alec Ingle, who took over 609 when Bee went off for a rest tour as a test pilot at Hawkers. R7752 went on to 56 Squadron in July 1943, but in August was back at Hawkers, where it was stripped and used for parts. Paint schemes and markings changed regularly on Typhoons. At one point, PR-G had 1ft wide yellow bands running back across the wings from close to the inside cannons (until 3rd February 1943). The spinner varied from red tipped duck-egg-blue (this was Richey, and Bee initially) at one point, to yellow with Bee. Also, cannons were initially unfaired – it was Bee’s idea to have them faired in, and R7752 was the first Typhoon to have this modification – with fairings from a Spitfire being used. These were also 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. Also, while Richey had it, at one point the ‘R7752’ serial 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. The gun camera was fitted to the port wing. R7752 was hit by flak off Vissengen and crash landed at Manston on 1st June 1943. Squadron Leader Ingle was unhurt. It was struck off charge 25th August 1943.

For your pleasure, it comes ready to frame and bung on the wall – or auction off to increase the donation! LOL.

I’m off to Runnymede first (this may delay my arrival at Hendon, but never mind).

Raffle is still on – please all bring something, no matter how small…if everyone wins, so much the better. I’m off to get a raffle ticket book at lunchtime Ashley – fear not!

Have been playing with my (well, not strictly ‘mine’, but lets not split hairs!) archives, and my computer, and am going to print something interesting as a prize…

See you lot tomorrow.

(I’ll be in the Irvin with a knackered zip, freshly shaved head and a goatee)