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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 0:14:25 GMT 12
This was published in the BAY OF PLENTY TIMES, on the 30th of APRIL 1940. Is that a Baffin? If it is, did the RAF or Royal Navy still retain some examples of the Baffin, or is it a really old photo?   |
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Post by davidd on Jul 3, 2017 8:16:33 GMT 12
Dave,
That is definitely a Baffin, and so far as I know, only the FAA (and RNZAF!) used this type. I would guess that this is a "file photo" which has been inappropriately used.
David D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 8:53:24 GMT 12
That's my opinion too. Although of course when the Baffins were in service the FAA was indeed part of the RAF.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 8:54:02 GMT 12
I have bever seen a photo of one dropping a torpedo before so that is interesting.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 3, 2017 11:47:49 GMT 12
When did the RNZAF retire their Baffins?
Were they gone by the time WWII came along?
(Yeah, I know....I've got several bookcases full of books and a few of them could probably give me the answer, but I cannot be bothered going searching at the moment.)
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 3, 2017 16:12:34 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 16:33:14 GMT 12
The Baffins were retired twice. Withdrawn about July 1940 when enough Vincents came available to cover their role with the New Zealand General Reconnaissance squadron, and placed in storage at Harewood. They were then pulled from storage in April 1941 when No. 3 (GR) Squadron formed at Harewood, and they used them till late 1941 when again they were replaced by Vincents and a few Vildebeests, and the remaining Baffins, as Zac says, went to Rongotai. Some became instructional airframes and the rest were broken up.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jul 3, 2017 16:50:40 GMT 12
So that photograph could conceivably have been taken in 1939 or early 1940 with the caption mislabeling it as being a RAF aircraft instead of RNZAF?
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Post by shorty on Jul 3, 2017 18:53:32 GMT 12
No, our Baffins never dropped torpedos AFIK
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 3, 2017 20:13:55 GMT 12
Shorty's correct, the RAF retained the torpedoes and torpedo equipment from the Baffins and the Vildebeests when they sold them to New Zealand second hand.
The only aircraft the RNZAF has ever operated with torpedo capability are the Orions. That is if you do not count No. 489 (NZ) Squadron's Handley Page Hampdens,Bristol Blenheims, Bristol Beauforts and Bristol Beaufighters.
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