RAF & Aeroplane ID

[percy porter]

I'm still trying to dig further into this, I'm beginning to think this was taken maybe post war when he worked for Dehavillands.

Cheers,
Pam

Pleased to see mystery has been solved my first thought was that neither of the two in the photo had Brevets' to indicate they were aircrew, if my memory serves me it was some way through WWII before non flying types IE gunners, bombaimers etc were entitled to wear the half wing.
If he had been issued it later then he would still have been entitled to wear it if he rejoined after the war, the lack of medal ribbons would also indicate it was early in his training and not a post war photo.

In conclusion my main reason in bringing this up is that my late father also worked for de Havillands all though as a civilian during the war with a short spell in Dads Army on airfield defence, I would be interested to know were he was working as they may well have known each other DHs' was a very close knit 'family'

Regards

Alan

[Boongie Pam]

Hi Alan,

I'm not sure this mystery is completely solved now 

My bf is an aeroplane enthusiast and is having a deep think about this picture.

As far as the picture goes...

Yes it is a Wellington but in strange colours, there seems to be a hint of camouflage could it of been painted over? Post war used for alternative purpose maybe?  BUT the gun turret is still in place.

There is a second picture also of 3 Wellingtons (nose end) the front one with a leggy redhead flashing her gams  The front gun perspex is removed though. (I'll get a scan of this somehow).  There is also a picture in the same pack of a captured Messerschmitt.

Bf thinks the colours are the same or similar as the Mosquito?  Where some Wellingtons used as training vehicles instead of Mosquitos?

The HZ serial number is the plane serial as the recognition code is much bigger writing further up the plane.

I'm going to speak to my mum about the DH connection as it might be a red herring.

All still confused here!

Pam
 

PS: Found some detail on HZ Wellingtons...
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=1600

[IMBER]

Yes, the HZ is the start of the serial number rather than the unit code.  Sounds like the Wellingtons without the front turret are the Wellington T.10, a modified trainer version.

[percy porter]

Here are some links sent to me by a friend who I regard as an expert in aircraft, certainly the best down under, like me ex RAF but unlike me was in the aircraft trade and still is

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/75/a5547675.shtml

http://home.concepts.nl/~avalphen/bel/hz.438.htm

http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RAF_owned_HK100.html

He thought it could have been a "Warwick" but the HZ serial number has convinced him it is a Wellington

Alan

[rafcommands]

Hi,

The aircraft is a Wellington.

Only Wellingtons were assigned in the HZ*** serial range.


The following is from a reverse serial/aircraft type database I created a few years ago.

Start   End   Model   Manufacturer
HZ102   HZ981   Wellington   Vickers

No serials in the range HZ100-101 and HZ982-999 were assigned to other aircraft.
 
Regards
Ross

[rafcommands]

Tried to add the full lookup list but it exceeds the post limit.

http://www.rafcommands.com/dcforum/DCForumID7/332.html#1

For anyone who needs an RAF aircraft for a partial serial.

Regards
Ross

[Flakdodger]

Hello Pam and hello Ross,
have just picked up on this thread.
The Wellington looks a little battered. Wonder if it is doped silver or finished in a coastal white camouflage.
The two gents look quite informal. VE Day + 1 perhaps.
I've had a look at a book of serial numbers (Jim Halley's Air Britain book, of course, Ross).
Taking the serial as HZ2....
the aircraft is one of a batch of 513 Wellingtons manufactured by Vickers at Blackpool between December 1942 and august 1943.
There were 54 airframes in the HZ200~299 range, various Marks.
Looking through, and arbitrarily ignoring those that did not survive to war's end (assuming the photo is of that period) there are a few that served with 6 and 7 Operational Training Units (OTU) and where disposed of to a company called Air Service Training/Airwork Ltd. 
Those OTUs where coastal units and their aircraft would usually be painted in a white scheme.
AST/Airwork was an organization involved in training and maintenance contracts from a number of bases in the UK, so I'm afraid the serial number does not seem to be the key to placing the photo.
Pam, you say there is another photo and also one of a captured Messerschmitt - any chance of posting them, please?
Regards
Dave