260 Sqn Mustang puzzle

**Alex Smart** · 9th January 2022, 04:59

Hello,
I have come across a problem with a 260 Sqn Mustang.

KH609. a Mk.III / P-51C.

From HMAW vol 5 page 346
21/1/1945 ditched Pilot Lt. C.B.SUSSKIND(SAAF) kia.

The pilot's body was later recovered and rests at Ravenna War Cemetery. Which suggests that the aircraft was also recovered and may later have been returned to service ?

Baughers USAAF serial numbers -
44-11034 to RAF as Mustang III KH609. Ditched off Ravenna Jan 21, 1945 following
engine failure.

However the 260 Sqn ORB has KH609 flying with different pilots on several opps in March/April 1945.

Alex

**CZ_RAF** · 5th August 2022, 13:23

Hi Alex, this would be not of big help but I remember similar case with one Stranraer - after ditching it was flush out on a rocky coast and then scrapped. But the ORB have it for several further weeks.
My opinion is that it is simply till the person comipilng the ORB has noticed the aircraft has been removed and replaced by another one. But is is just a guess.

Pavel

**Alex Smart** · 10th August 2022, 23:16

Hello Pavel,
That was my initial thoughts but having seen the ORB for the January April months KH609 appears several times. I thought that a typo but then for other similar serial numbers , they also appear on the same operations so could not I feel be a repeated typo. So my thoughts now lean towards the aircraft been recovered, and put back in service . If I recall it does not show in February 45 record though which may give the time for recovery and repairs to be done.
Wouldn't it be great if someone came up with those other pilots log books that might give the answer :)
Alex

**Alex Smart** · 11th August 2022, 01:01

Hi Pavel,
Then again how about HB906, which was SOC on 14/03/1946 ???
That could well have been the later "KH"906 as you suggest, a typo error that should have been HB906 ???
But I found it hard to find HB609 after The KH609 loss date .
Or could it have been HB609 that was the a/c that Susskind was flying on the 21st January '45 ?

Alex

**Andy Marden** · 11th August 2022, 13:04

I still think Pavel's answer is the most likely. ORBs in the Battle of Britain era are littered with incorrect serials, nearly always of an aircraft with the same code that had been lost earlier.
The ORBs were usually compiled restrospectively. In most squadrons, the code letter was the main means of identification. The compiler often just used the latest "tie-up" he had for a particular letter.
There are similar examples of Lancasters still appearing regularly in ORBs for months after they had been shot down.

**Alex Smart** · 11th August 2022, 23:12

My thoughts are that Susskind was in HB906 when he was lost and that the KH609 entries in the ORB are correct.
But I could be wrong ?

**SteveBrooking** · 12th August 2022, 07:37

Alex
There was no Mustang serial HB609 the first serial allocated was HB821.
Steve

**Alex Smart** · 12th August 2022, 12:26

Hello Steve, Many thanks, I made a great error :(
Agree NO HB609 Mustang, as HB609 was an Argus.
I got HB906 mixed up, see my post (No.4) above :( :(
So will now have to adjust my thoughts on Susskind's aircraft number :(
Again thank you for bringing my error to attention.
Alex