The 11A number is the only one you need. That will identify what it is, but not necessarily what it was fitted to.

This is not an airframe part per se; it is an accessory!

Bruce

Thanks Bruce

It’s interesting you say it’s an accessory, so it’s a bolt on bolt off piece? This would suggest it’s more of a Fighter bomber piece or are all Bomb racks considered an accessory? Even when fitted to Lancaster for example. I bought this as being from a Mosquito from a usually reliable source but the People at Evington looked at it and said definitely not. Will get a picture over tomorrow, it’s in the back of the truck at present and weighs a ton need some help to lift it out. 😮

Anyone else find it quite sad that people can list every sortie a pilot flew, every aircraft they flew, intricacies of their uniform, what they ate and even what their dog was called, yet a simple question about the number and composition of groundcrew required to service an aircraft leads to replies littered with ‘I think’ and ‘probably’.

WWII groundcrew (or any groundcrew!) are a sadly neglected part of the war and the lack of information and decent books about them is a quite sad affair.

It is true it seems to be a little studied subject from what I gather as with most thing British including the language there are no hard and fast rules. I am hoping the DVD suggested will fill in all the gaps.

Found it bought it should answer allot of questions just need a crew now.:)

The fitter was the engine specialist,so his/her primary responsibility would be maintaining the Engine/Prop/Engine Controls.
The Rigger was/is the Airframe Specialist,his/her primary responsibility would be the Airframe structure,flying controls,hydraulic/pneumatic systems,landing gear,transparencies.
But in reality the 2 tradesmen would have helped each other out as required (as long as they ‘got on’ with each other).

I would imagine on most flying units trade demarcation got a little hazy at times especially for the more mundane tasks .
So a minimum turn round team might be 1 Fitter/1 Rigger/2 Armourers (if rearming) and maybe a ‘Fairy’ 😀 if there was a radio problem.

When I joined my first sqn on graduation from Halton in 1972 (Rigger) we had fairly recently taken over responsibility for Oxygen systems from the ‘Fairies’ and indeed our Inst (gen) mechanic still topped up the a/c for us every morning,so I am speculating that during WW2 the fairies were responsible for oxygen bottles etc…anybody confirm ??

rgds baz

This is all good stuff, in the B of B film you see a crew chief organising the burning of the lame ducks. Would this chap be in charge of all the ground crew for the whole Squadron? What would be his role and what rank and insignia would he likely to be/wear? Who would he answer to the Squadron Ldr or flt commanders?

I quote “Blind drunk & Bu99ered”….. seems petty conslusive I think I can probably talk his associates out of taking action if you were to hand over that handsome Spitfire of yours as compensation ;):diablo: do we have a deal 😀