RAF & Aeroplane ID

[Boongie Pam]

Y'can tell I don't like the sun, lurking here all day!!  

I thought I'd take advantage of the vast wisdom and knowledge that is on this forum.  My Grandad was in the RAF during the war and I believe he was a tail gunner.  Or at least this was one of the very few things he said about the war.  He didn't like to talk about it at all and now sadly I now longer have the opportunity to ask him questions.

I do however have a photo.  Can anyone tell me what aeroplane my Grandad (on the right) and his pal are sitting on?  Is there enough visible?

Thanks in advance,
Pam
 

[Sasha]

Hi Pam,

Firstly congratulations - I've shown my husband the photo, and he's finally interested in this site!  

He says that it is very difficult to tell from the photo but thinks that it is a Vickers-Armstrong Wellington, but the Short Stirling has a very similar tail and is another possibility.

Do you have any idea where your Grandad was based as this will help to identify the plane.

Regards,
Sasha.

[Boongie Pam]

The story as far as the snippets of info I have is that he left home in Annan after a ruck with his dad and joined up at the age of 18 in 1939, he lied about his age.  

Now, I know he was in Dyce (Aberdeen) for training.  I also know he was also stationed in Leeds for a bit but this may have been later in the war as he used to walk to Liverpool to see my Nana who worked on the barrage (sp?) ballons in the WAFs in Liverpool.

The only other info I have is that he spent time in North Africa.   There may of been a spell in Loughborough, I know my Nana was there when she joined up (also at 18 - what a family of fibbers!) and we think that is where they met.

Don't know if that helps understand which plane it could be though?

Thanks,
Pam
 

[Sasha]

Hi Pam,

It doesn't really help as there were that many bases around the Leeds and Loughborough area.

The partial code on the plane may help identify it - you've got my husband interested now and he says he'll have a look on the internet later (when I've got off the computer) and see if he can find anything out for you.

Sasha.

[Sasha]

Hi Pam,

After much searching of the internet I'm afraid that we haven't really come up with anything.

The 'HZ' shown on the plane is the partial aircraft identification number - we can't find anything relating to this.

Also, Wellington's were usually painted black, and yours is lighter (grey?).  We've found a similar picture to compare with yours which should be attached.

The nearest base to Loughborough using Wellingtons was Castle Donnington, but there were others in the area.

One website to try is http://www.stable.demon.co.uk/sqncodes/rafcode.htm.  The owner of this site has information on squadron codes and asks that if it doesn't provide the information you need (which it doesn't seem to) contact him for help.

I'd be interested to hear if you find out anything more.

Regards.
Sasha.
 

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Pam

Being born and bred in Loughborough, I know of at least 3 Airfields that were operational in WW2.  I observed planes taking off from all 3

Castle Donington - Now the East Midland Airport (7 miles from Loughborough)
Wymeswold - Military Airbase overlooking Loughborough (still functional as emergency landing)
Loughborough - Derby Road Airfield - now an Industrial Estate.

Chris in 1066Land

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Pam

Just found this site  - excellent information - lots of pictures of airfields including Wymeswold - plus confirms Wymeswold was a bomber Squadron

RAF Wymeswold Airfield
... Wymeswold. site map. airfield listing. usaaf listing ... Peter J Broom) Wymeswold airfield. Airfield Today: Agriculture, industry ...
 www.controltowers.co.uk  

Chris in 1066Land

[Boongie Pam]

Thanks all!  It's the type of information that is just nice to have - I'll definitely follow this up.  

Thanks,
Pam

PS I can't be   Pam tonight, I'm   Pam with a bit of   Pam.  I was due to go on holiday on Wednesday but after tearing my house apart we have confirmation the passport is lost.

  ;DPam - passport found!!!  ANy one need an MI found in Aix en Provence?

[Swift5]

Of the two types listed as possibilities I'd come down on the type being a Wellington.  For one thing, part of the fuselage seems to be fabric covered - I don't think that the Stirling was.  And secondly, the Stirling was a much larger aircraft than the Wellington; the one in your photo seems to be fairly close to the ground.

If your grandfather served in the Middle East that would also point to it being a Wellington since, to the best of my knowledge Stirlings didn't get out there.

Don't be misled by the colour being a bit light - this could be possibly be accounted for by the type of film used.  These sometimes gave a false rendition of some types of camouflage paint.