P/O W. H. C. Beaumont, 222 Sqn - Spitfire ID?

[wwrsimon]

Hello everyone

On May 31st 1942 Wentworth Hubert Charles Beaumont (later Viscount Allendale) of 222 Sqn made a forced-landing on Walcheren (ORB F.540 records 'Walcherew'). He was reported missing, but survived and became a P.o.W. at Stalag Luft III.

The ORB Form 541 has him in Spitfire AD121, but Air 81 has him in P8755: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=P8755

However, he is also recorded in AD121 on the database on here too: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=ad121

So, which is correct? AD121 seems to be the one most mentioned.

Regards

Simon

[davew]

Simon

AD121 is what I have (FCL, The History and ABS). P8755 was on charge with 222MU (The History) before being was sent to Russia in November 1942.

DaveW

[wwrsimon]

Thanks Dave.

According to the ORB Form 541 he had flown P8755 on a number of occasions, and it records that he claimed an FW.190 as 'probable' on Circus 144 on April 28th 1942 when flying it:

Air/50/85:
I was flying Red 4 to the Wing Commander when he carried out an attack on a FW.190. I became separated and attacked another FW.190 which broke away. I was then attacked by a second FW.190 which pulled vertically upwards ion front of me and then broke away. By this time I was at 10,000 feet, when I spotted another FW.190 turning behind me. I turned in on him and delivered an attack from 60º firing a burst of about 1½ seconds from 250 – 300 yards with M.G. E/A turned slowly over – keeping its course, and slipped down on its port wing, going over from there to a vertical position. I watched E/A going down, and when he was at an estimated height of 1000 feet was still vertical. Another FW.190 came down behind me so I had to turn away into him. My height was then 6000 feet.

So, at the risk of completely pushing my luck, can anyone tell me the code letter for P8755 in April 1942...?

Regards

Simon

[JohnE]

P8755 was coded "Y" - confirmed by a log book. Tail damaged by FW190 on May 25th when flown by Cornelis van Houten. AD121 arrived the next day.

John Engelsted

[wwrsimon]

Many thanks John.

AD121 didn't last very long with 222 Sqn at all!

I've seen a couple of sources that state AD121 was also ZD-Y, so a straight replacement for P8755?

Regards

Simon

[Andy Marden]

Thanks for the clarification gents. I have amended the two entries in our database:
P8755: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=P8755
AD121: http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=AD121

[Andy Marden]

Simon,
I would have expected AD121 to have been Y, but confirmation would be useful.
It is very common to find ORBs etc with errors like this. When writing after the event, the compiler, knowing that eg aircraft Y had been lost, would use the current serial for Y rather than the aircraft actually involved.
The 610 Sqn records in the BoB period suffer particularly badly from this problem.
Andy

[wwrsimon]

Andy

I got 'Y' for AD121 from here: https://www.verliesregister.studiegr...lts?sglo=T1533

They quote Henk Welting as the source for the radio letter.

Regards

Simon