I suppose it makes a seasonal change from the Roundel Police!!

Speaking of seasons and the Roundel Police: of course we all know (don’t we) that underwing roundels were not introduced on the black&white underside scheme until the Battle of France started in the earnest, by which time (mid-May) the only whitish thing on the ground was the sand on Dunkirk beaches… Not sure what tractors were used there.

(My coat on, already.)

to ask about the Canadian pine crate

It never ceases to amaze me how celebs are experts in everything they touch. In my ignorance I’d never have guessed it was Canadian pine.
Perhaps I should try this for enlightment:

As PeteH said, I have no reason to doubt what Eric Marsden told me. Not least of all because (a) he was there (b) had a razor sharp memory for detail and minutiae, and, (c) having dug out some interview notes from 1980 I see that broadly the same figures were given to me by a Fitter IIE who was at Kenley in 1940 (20 miniutes and 8 minutes) and two other fitters who moved between Hurricane and Spitfire squadrons. One of those said about 25 and 10 whilst the other couldn’t recall but agreed Eric Marsden’s figures.

Not doubting any of these figures from fitters, had any of them moved from Spitfires to work on Hurricanes, or were they all switching from Hurricanes to Spitfires? If the latter was the case, wouldn’t it be, to some extent at least, the usual case of longer turnaround time on any new type of machinery before you get used to it, after you’ve worked on the previous type for quite a while and learned to handle it profficiently?

Recap:
Main use between Sept. 1939 and Dec. 1945
British built single engined fighter used operationally
engine: no V12 (so none of the Merlin or Griffon-engined types), no Napier Sabre (so no Typhoon or NS-powered Tempest)
Not used by the Royal Navy (so no Gladiator)
No Tempest II
?

Used operationally?

Kev, would it be possible to have a look at the “unknown inscriptions in Polish”?

I know of another member of 304 Sqn who was posted to No. 17 Aircrew Holding Unit (ACHU) at RAF Snaith in July 1945. He then went to No. 1333 Transport Support Conversion Unit at RAF Syerston. So, the Snaith/Transport Command link is plausible.

Some Polish flying crew members joined the RAF on disbandment of the exiled Polish Air Force. I know of Polish WW2 pilots who then flew heavy bombers with the RAF after the war. Therefore the link with Lancasters and/or 83 Sqn is not unlikely for a flyer of another air crew trade.

Finally (or perhaps I should have started with the question): is Jerzy Sikorski’s next-of-kin interested in this research? Closest relatives can ask for his service details at the Ministry of Defence, APC Polish Enquiries (0044 20 8833 8603). With a bit of luck there might be a thick file for him.

Shuttleworth?
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