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Post by dewobz on Jul 1, 2015 7:50:10 GMT 12
Hi again
Another question in advance of building Classic Airframes 1/48 Boulton-Paul Defiant for the Battle of Britain GB over on kiwimodeller.
The desired subject is a Defiant flown by F/L Tom Fitzgerald (RNZAF) who I believe transfered to 141 Sqn from Blackburn Skuas on about 12 Sept 1941.
I've found out considerably more information about Fitzgerald but can't ascertain an actual aircraft he flew.
Does anyone know the codes and serial number of a BP Defiant flown by Tom Fitzgerald?
141 Sqn operated TW- codes I believe, as there are a couple of aircraft represented in decal sets for 1/72 scale.
I will, of course, post the finished model on here (if my computer allows me to).
Any assistance gratefully accepted.
Regards
Wally.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jul 1, 2015 9:26:32 GMT 12
Just a small correction Wally. Tom Fitzgerald was RAF at the time not RNZAF.
He served with both, as it happens: RNZAF 8 Jun 37 - 31 May 38; RAF 1 Jun 38 - 11 Feb 46 (on loan to RNZAF 30 Jan - 4 Oct 43); RNZAF 12 Feb 46 -16 Dec 47.
Errol
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Post by angelsonefive on Jul 1, 2015 10:00:10 GMT 12
Hi Wally, The 141 Sqdn Operations Record Book is available on line here : www.oldrafrecords.com/index.phpI had a quick look through September and October '40 in the Form 541 ( Details of Work Carried Out ) and as far as I could tell F/L Fitzgerald is first mentioned on 8/10/40 as carrying out a night patrol from Gatwick, with Sgt Hithersay as his A.G., in Defiant N1549. No aircraft letter given unfortunately, but there could be something in the following months. Regards, a15 |
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 2, 2015 11:46:22 GMT 12
I can't offer any info on the Defiant or Fitzgerald...but jeez you're profilic at the moment, Wally! It's great to see so many builds popping up from your bench.
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Post by angelsonefive on Jul 8, 2015 11:29:37 GMT 12
Wally,
More operational flights in Defiants for F/L Fitzgerald.
The ORB does not give a serial no. in all cases, but here are the entries that do, up until late April 1941, when he left to fly Douglas Havocs with 23 Sqdn.
21/10/40 Night Patrol in N1568 with Sgt Allen, gunner.
29/10/40 Ditto.
14/11/40 NP in N1634 with Sgt Allen.
22/11/40 NP in N1552 with Sgt Allen.
08/12/40 NP in N1752 with Sgt Allen.
10/02/41 NP in N3394 with Sgt Ashcroft.
18/02/41 NP in N3393 with Sgt Allen.
13/03/41 Ditto.
14/03/41 NP in N3393 with Sgt Townsend.
04/04/41 NP in N3393 with Sgt Beechey.
08/04/41 NP 0215/0405 in N3393 with Sgt Ashcroft.
08/04/41 NP 2015/2215 in N3393 with Sgt Ashcroft.
16/04/41 NP in N3393 with Sgt Allen.
BTW, Tom Fitzgerald was flying Fairey Battles in France ( when he was wounded in action, and awarded the DFC ) before joining 141 Sqdn and there is no mention in his bio. of him flying the Blackburn Skua.
Regards,
a15
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Post by dewobz on Jul 8, 2015 14:16:02 GMT 12
Thanks a15 for the information.
That gives me a better chance of discovering an aircraft Code Letter.
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Post by dewobz on Aug 3, 2016 12:25:52 GMT 12
Update on this: Great news for me! N1752 'TW-L' now appears in a decal set recently released by ROP os @ Hannants BP Defiant N1752 - in all-over Black NF livery w white code letters TW-L - 141 Sqn, flown by P/O J G Benson, Gravesend, 11 Dec 1940. www.hannants.co.uk/product/MNFD48025F/L Tom Fitzgerald flew the same a/c on the 8th of December. The same set also includes a 121 'Newfoundland' Sqn Defiant N1636 VA-M flown by P/O G E Jameson, RNZAF, on 18 Jan 1942. Whoever ROP os are, I thank them. Their recent releases also include BP Defiant TW-H "Cock o' the North" from 141 Sqn, shot down near Dover on 19 July 1940. www.hannants.co.uk/product/MNFD48026Aviaeology Decals have also released 'Coastal Stike Wings' Beaufighter TFX's in 1945 in both 1/72 and 1/48 with multiple subjects from 144, 455 RAAF, and 489 NZ Sqns including RD432 P6-L1 which I am building over on kiwimodeller.com right now. I'll post the finished model on here. Here's the 1/48 link - www.hannants.co.uk/product/AOD48021 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 3, 2016 20:44:54 GMT 12
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Post by nuuumannn on Aug 8, 2016 12:27:16 GMT 12
Hi Wally, I don't know if this is of any use to you, but a couple of books show reference to 141 Sqn Defiant N1795 TW-W in an all-over black scheme Special Night RDM.2A with Medium Sea Grey codes and serial (not white), although one book shows the same aircraft with a red serial and grey codes, but nothing showing if Fitzgerald flew this aircraft.
The aircraft is listed on the sheet data as N7009, when it should be L7009, minor glitch. This was the day that six of nine 141 Sqn Defiants were shot down in under a minute by no less than 30 Bf 109s led by Hannes Troutloft in the incident that became known as 'The Slaughter of the Innocents'. Four pilots and five gunners were lost including two New Zealanders; Plt Offs John Kemp and Rudal Kidson piloting L6974 and L7015 respectively. This was the incident that stained the reputation of the Defiant as a day fighter and led to it being used solely as a night fighter from the end of August 1940.
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