Hello folks, I was wondering if anyone could help me trace the History, Squadrons and Pilots of Mk 1 Spitfire R7154. She was a presentation Spitfire bought in 1940 by donation (Spitfire Fund) of the people of Accrington, Church and Oswaldtwistle. The photograph of the aircrafts cockpit was taken c. 1941. Can any help trace this aircraft or does anyone have any photographs or any knowledge of the spitfire’s war time history?

Hi, welcome to the forum.

The entry for this aircraft in ‘Spitfire – The History’ shows the following information:

First flight, 26 February 1941
12 MU, 1 March 1941
124 Sqn, 7 May 1941
Forced landing, Sandwood Bay, Caithness, 30 September 1941
Struck off charge, 30 March 1942

124 Sqn was reformed with Spitfire Mk 1’s at Castletown, in the extreme north of Scotland, for the defence of Scapa Flow, on 10 May 1941. It moved to Biggin Hill on 17 November 1941, having then re-equipped with Spitfire VA’s.

I have no further details than that, I’m afraid. You could try a “Google” search on 124 Sqn to see what that brings up.

Another track is to obtain copies of the 124 Sqn Operational Record Book (F540/541) for the period 1 May – 31 Oct 41, from the National Archive at Kew and check what details are recorded in there. These forms usually record which pilots flew what aircraft on whatever day.

If you ask them, the RAF Museum can also supply a copy of the Aircraft Movement Card (AM Form 78). See their website.

BR

Laurie.

Thanks Paul, well that is a different spelling from all the references I have, which all state Bouey, not Booy. My references come from many different sources, so I wonder if the Times made a typo, or if everyone else did. I will look further into Mr J.M. de Booy though, cheers mate.

Dave,

The presentation list in my book does not include any reference to de Booy/Royal Dutch/Shell either. However, this list not definitive as I have spotted several omissions.

It will be interesting to see what is in the new book when it comes out later this year.

BR

Laurie.

I checked that because I saw the De Bruyne name on Henry Boot’s website, but I have several different sources which state Bill married Mary Dorothea de Bouey, from newspapers to magazines.

Her parents had a flat in London, according to one source. I believe her parents had a fairly big business in Britain, but this is unconfirmed. It may have been in the clothing industry, I have a glimour of a memory that someone mentioned this. Let’s just say many people have said Bill married well.

Dave,

I have just been through the list again, there is nothing even remotely like the name of de Bouey.

The other possibility is that mentioned by Mark 12 earlier, the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) Fund. They were directly responsible for the presentation of 60 Spitfires, more than any other donor. There are another 5 aircraft which bear place names from that area that are not directly attributed to the NEI but could have been presented by them.

BR

Laurie.

I certainly have (at home, so not postable before Monday) a photo of that one being raised by the Germans after belly landing (FY-K of 611 Sqn). The photo (part of it) featured in the Mushroom book on Spitfire V.

However, I feel more association with W3817 as the Spitfire served with no. 501 Sqn and was coded SD-O 😉 at one time.

I wonder why?? :rolleyes:

‘Spitfire – The History’ shows W3816 allocated to 611 Sqn 29 Aug 41. Failed to return from ops, 20 Sep 41.

Regards,

Laurie.

TT.

A little bit of extra info on that presentation. Did you know that there was a second Spitfire presented by the paper at the same time as W3817?

This was W3816, “The Shopmate”. In the ‘Presentation Spitfires’ section of my copy of ‘Spitfire – The Story of a Famous Fighter’ by Bruce Robertson, it shows both aircraft as being presented by John White and the Northampton Evening Telegraph.

BR,

Laurie.

I would be interested to learn of any operational or training use of the Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear on both Merlin and Griffon powered Seafires.

Mark

Mark, Dave,

Rocket assisted take-offs were used quite often by 800 Sqn Seafire 47’s during their involvement in Korea. I don’t have too many details, but I do have some photos. Attached is one showing VP480 taking off from the deck of HMS Triumph with the gear attached and operating.

I think I might have some more photos on the other disk. I’ll have a look and post if I can find them.

BR

Laurie.

It’s one of a pair of EC-121 from the 193d Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the Pennsylvania Air Guard that operated from Korat in Thailand in 1970 as part of Operation “Commando Buzz” – the 193rd were a “psy-ops” unit that broadcast propanganda and so on over the radio and TV.

I presume the “airline” paint scheme was some sort of subterfuge to make it look like a civil machine.

Just found this photo of one of the Pennsilvania ANG machines:

http://www.dean-boys.com/extras/images/3.gif

Different aerial configuration, probably for slightly different mission, but the paint scheme, including markings, is pretty much the same. Type shown as EC-121S.

BR

Laurie.

Here she is waiting for spring
Mike

Thanks Mike. Looking immaculate as usual.

BR,

Laurie.