Having done a fair bit of research on Slingsby numbering with t31’s
My understanding is this:
When an aircraft was built and delivered into RAF Service new, The main number on the fuselage in this case SSK/FF/441 would have been repeated on all components.
In this case the rudder: SSK/R/441.
The wings were also numbered at the factory, and the Starboard wing number was double the Fuselage number, and the Port wing was the same number minus 1
In this case Stbd SSK/OW/882 and Port SSK/OW/881
In service it was common practice to exchange components between gliders if one suffered damage, and the exchanged items were then repaired and exchanged again. So it is common to find aircraft with mismatching rudders, elevators, ailerons, even wings. The number on the component can only really tell us which aircraft it was originally fitted too when new. The main Fuselage number should have retained the original identity.
Most airscraft conform to this pattern, and I have been able to confirm this on a many airframes. However, there are always exceptions, especially when there seem to have been major refurbs. For instance a T31 Motor conversion (the first one) has the fuselage numbered: Rep C.766 This would appear to be a T8 fuselage, repaired, and modified to a T31. The other odball is the T31 in the RAF Museum, Hendon XA302, which should be referenced SSK/FF1449, but is actually numbered: SSK/FF/114. Admitedly the paper square may be obscured, and missing the 9, but it looks like a typo of 1149 instead of 1449.
I hope that is useful.
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