Hello
Re NC3022, I believe this to have been Constructor number “1055”, FAA cert issue date 24/06/42, cancelled 21/08/43. Registered to the BRITISH AMERICAN AMBULANCE CORPS INC . This was I believe MV993.
Alex

No, NC3022 became HK822. Phil Butler sorted out the Goose (Geese?) in his ir Arsenal North America book.

Beaverbrook’s G-AFKJ (cn 1049) was the aircraft that became MV993

Hello,

1 Grumman Widgeon numbered JS996 , one off.
Delivered 22-5-43; 111 OTU Nassau 2-43 to 8-43; Foreign Commission , Miami 2-46 as Admiral’s Barge.

From Air Britain RAF Aircraft BA100 to BZ999, FA100 to FZ999, HA100 to HZ999, JA100 to JZ999 and MA100 to MZ999.

HK822 Sea Rescue Flight/ 1 Air Ambulance Unit – Purchased in USA and presented to RAF in 1941. Ex G-AFKJ constructors number 1049 owned by Lord Beaverbrook till Feb 1941; crashed on landing and sank 15m N of Benghazi 9.12.42.
JS996 111 OTU/ 45 Gp, returned to US 28.2.46.
MV989 would have been one of a batch of cancelled Seafires.
MV993 Grumman Goose I for Royal Navy.

I also saw the references to the ATA and 24 Squadron RAF.
My thoughts are that the ATA a/c may have been JS996 and that the 24 Sqdn a/c was either one borrowed from the RN or that it was HK822 on loan (I take note of the phrase “Presented to the RAF” rather than “Impressed into the RAF”).

All the best
Alex

The Air Britain book is wrong on the history of HK822 and MV989.

MV993 was used in the UK by 24 Squadron (and ATA IIRc), HK822 in the Middle East (By the ASR Flight). The former was the ex-UK civilian type (Ex G-AFKJ) presented by Lord Beaverbrook, the latter came from the US as a donation along with the Fairchild 91. (Was ex-NC3022)

Beaverbrook’s aircraft CAA card:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-AFKJ.pdf

PIc of NC3022 before delivery)

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1317200116/Hi+Pat%2C+you+would+open+that+can+of+worms+wouldn%27t+you-

(Has there ever been a Hurricane Kermit?)

Don’t think so, but there is Kermit the Hurricane Hunter:

http://flightscience.noaa.gov/about_p3s.html

It seems quite clear under the circumstances that no one has reached the point where they are willing to call a Spade a Spade.

My grandad called his an effin shovel….

You can only libel someone if it’s not true – it sounds like M12 has seen enough evidence to prove possession beyond reasonable doubt (the standard for civil law).

And I don’t know who it is either!

BTW, wasn’t someone jailed in the 90s for stealing RAF records from the (then) PRO?

Could it be off an Nimrod R1, which has different underside?

No one has suggested it was wrong. It was simply the perception that artefacts have more value than human life. Which has been denied by the OP anyway, so no harm done!:)

There is a philosophical arguement there, but this is not the time or place.

Here’s hoping, everyone, both people and inanimate objects, get through ok!

And DaveF68…I think you are being far too charitable!!

I think so too. As someone with one relative lost at sea (in a known war grave) and another in a CWGC cemetry whose headstone says ‘Buried near here’, I greatly admire the work that you and others do to give the fallen a proper grave. I do not really understand the MOD’s attitude, unless it is all driven by (a lack of) money.