I guess Willie Rhodes-Moorhouse must therefore be a quarter New Zealander. Can we claim him?

If we can have Edmund Hillary by the same logic! 😉

It wasn’t his aircraft – Fighterace can give more info as to the background to the Hurricane that was dug than my patchy post New-Year memory can provide..

That Kain footage sounds interesting!

Good evidence! Certainly leaves it open to doubt the other sources, and I stand corrected. Thanks, VoyTech

Similarly, I have only come to ‘know’ you from what you contribute on here – but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM

Very intersting theory but not in this case. The code was changed while the unit was still flying Mk XIVs (photos prove that). When they exchanged those for Mk IXs why would anyone apply wrong (old) codes on a newly received machine?

The conversion to Mk IX’s began in August with the decreasing V1 threat and the new ground-attack focus. The first operation with IXb’s was – I think from the tricky-to read online ORB – August 11th. I am interested in the photo evidence of 322 XIV’s in W3 codes. I have seen a couple of Mk XVI’s in 3W, also a spuriously marked XIV in a museum, and a couple of paintings, but no photographs. Opinions vary over the time of change of code (from August 1944 right up to early 1945), probably for the very reasons I mooted above – a delay in actually changing existing aircraft codes. So there is ample opportunity for an aircraft delivered to the squadron in August to be marked up as VL on acceptance onto strength and then not changed before September 1st.

Also note the reference provided by Topgun.

It was all filmed in colour! upgrade your tv set!

As for the outer fabric wing spar, that fits nicely to the centre section in the garage:diablo:

Yes, sorry, I was confused by the fact, as pointed out above, that WWII happened in black and white except for some bits. 😉

Is it a rear spar? I’d love any ‘cleaned up’ pics you might have.. not seen one in the flesh..

Good job, by the way!

–

As you say, the books – and also various other sources, this from the National Archives and as ‘primary’ as it probably gets: MK905 LFIX CBAF M66 …. 322S ‘VL-P’ Tail shot off by flak NE of St.Omer 1-9-44 F/Lt J L Plesman killed

Why do you say ‘Must have been 3W-P’? Without a photo, there is no reason why that has to be the case. It is very possible that the squadron codes were not changed on this aircraft – just because an order is given, the opportunity to actually get the paintbushes out might not happen for days or even weeks afterwards.

So, barring a dig, MK905 is probably your best bet for this aircraft, whatever codes it was wearing – unless anyone here knows different (Mark12???)

hehe – yes, I resisted that one – full explanation on ‘Wonderful thing about Tighar’ post..