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History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
14:06:40 Thursday, October 3, 2002
Post:
Dear all,
Can anybody help me?
Is it possible to track and aircraft from build to decommissioning from the serial number?
I am hoping to follow the history of a Tempest Mk V No SN339 from its build date to is demise on 14th Jan 1948.
Where would I start to look and are there any official records of aircraft, that are kept in a single location?
Hope to hear from someone soon.
Regards
John_W
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: Ross_McNeill
Time Stamp:
15:05:47 Thursday, October 3, 2002
Post:
Hi John,
You can either visit or write to the RAF Museum at Hendon, London and ask for a copy of the RAF Form 78 for the aircraft.
This will give all the dates/units to which it was issued as well as the construction contract number.
Regards
Ross
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: Henk Welting (Guest)
Time Stamp:
14:24:44 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
Hi John,
SN339 dived into ground recovering from practice attack 2%BD miles south of Neustadt and F/Lt John M. WARDLAW killed and buried in the Ohlsdorf War Cemetery at Hamburg. Do you have the servicenumber of F/Lt Wardlaw? No records CWGC after 1947.
Regards,
Henk.
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
15:12:17 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
Dear Henk,
Thanks for the info
The reason that I am interested in this plane is that my uncle
Fl/Lt John Millar Wardlaw was the pilot, whom I am named after.
I have the letters from the Squadron Commander, photographs from
the funeral, the crash report and service records.
I am putting together a fact file containing all the information that I can find and I am looking for the aircraft data to stick in the file. His log books makes interesting reading.
The more that you find out the more you want to know.
The crash report mentions 3 possible reasons for the crash
1. Pilot error. (the official line)
or
2. Ricochet from own cannon hitting both pilot and aircraft.
3. Ricochet from tanks firing in the area.
Point 3 seemed to have been mentioned by different person than person who wrote point 1 & 2
According to the Squadron Commander, my uncle was a good pilot who passed out top in ground combat and " was up there with the best of them"
I am also looking for any photographs that may be around of the squadron at that time (Jun 1947 to Jan 1948)
My father visited the grave in Ohlsdorf in Nov 2001 for the first time and found it very moving. What started out as putting the information into a folder has become somewhat of a hobby for me.
Thanks again
John Wardlaw
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: errol.martyn@xtra.co.nz (Guest)
Time Stamp:
18:57:41 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
Hello Henk,
According to the July 1947 RAF Air Force List J M Wardlaw's number was 55149.
Cheers,
Errol
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
20:34:49 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
Hi Errol,
What RAF list gave you the serial number?
Is this list freely available?
Does it have a group picture of the squadron pilots
I am looking to try and get as much info as I can.
This might be a basic question but I am fairly new to all this detective work.
Thanks
John Wardlaw
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: errol.martyn@xtra.co.nz (Guest)
Time Stamp:
10:28:19 Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Post:
John,
Serial number normally relates to aircraft. Presume you mean my note to Henk giving Wardlaw's service (or personal) number. The Air Force List is the name given to the official list of officers of the RAF. It began as a monthly publication in April 1918 but later (sometime postwar?) was produced quarterly and in the last 20 years or so annually.
From late 1940 or early 1941 on it features only surnames, intials and service numbers, whereas previously full names were included and before that their respective units. There are no photographs in the lists. Full or near full sets of the lists are held at RAF Museum Hendon and at the PRO at Kew.
Regards,
Errol
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
12:23:27 Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Post:
Hi Errol,
Thanks for the explaination. I still have a lot to learn about the different methods of gathering information.
Fl/Lt John Millar Wardlaw (55149) was my uncle and I share his name.
I plan to visit his grave at the military cemetry in Ohlsdorf, Germany in April this year and am trying to gather as much info as possible.
I think that I will have to take a visit to Hendon and the PRO at Kew to see for myself this wealth of knowledge.
Best regards
John Wardlaw
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W (Guest)
Time Stamp:
20:28:23 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
Henk,
I forgot to ask where you got that information from. Was it from a book?
I have ordered Final Landings by Colin Cummings from Amazon.co.uk and that should be here soon.
Would the No3 Sqdn ORB give me any more information?
Thanks again
John Wardlaw
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: Jim Robinson (Guest)
Time Stamp:
21:29:20 Sunday, November 3, 2002
Post:
From the "Typhoon & Tempest Story" Thomas & Shores
"Tempest Vs ordered against contract ACFT/1876/C.23(a) to be built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Langley."
(There then follows a series of batches OF 700 numbers including SN310-SN355)
"Production was terminated at SN355, 201 A/C had been completed"
There is also a colour graphic in the book of SN330 which was also in 3 Sqn in 1948. Let me know if you want a scan of it.
Jim
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
10:23:05 Saturday, March 16, 2002
Post:
Jim,
Thanks for the information.
I have enquired to Amazon.co.uk to see if this book is available to order.
SN330 was the Commanding Officers aircraft and if possible, could you please email me a scan of it.
I have sent a request to Hendon for the RAF form 78 for SN339 and that will take approx 3 weeks.
Thanks again
Best regards
John Wardlaw
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
10:36:52 Thursday, April 18, 2002
Post:
Jim,
Since your reply, I have to get a copy of this book but it seems to be out of print at the moment.
I have recently received the Form 78 for Tempest MkV SN339.
The first date on it refer to 18/7/45 to 20MU (maintenance unit I think)
From the book, can you tell me when this particular plane was built?
Also do you know if individual maintenance records were kept for each aircraft? If so, I suspect that they would be binned a long time ago.
Thanks in advance
John W
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: Jim Robinson (Guest)
Time Stamp:
22:03:59 Thursday, April 18, 2002
Post:
John,
Could you post your e-mail address and I will scan the graphic for you.
Jim
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: John_W
Time Stamp:
07:36:00 Friday, April 19, 2002
Post:
Jim,
If the graphic you mention is SN330 I already have it from the Tempest website which I found to be really interesting.
If the graphic is an extract from the book then please send it to my email address given below.
johnw4964.A T.lineone.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
John W
RE: History of an Aircraft (Tempest MkV SN339)
Author: Henk Welting (Guest)
Time Stamp:
08:28:58 Tuesday, December 3, 2002
Post:
Hi John,
Info on crash came from RAF Serials (Air Britain).
Errol, info reading, thanks for the servicenumber.
Regards,
Henk.