258 Squadron Hurricanes 1943/1944

**Tonykart** · 25th August 2023, 13:39

Folks....just having reviewed my Fathers logbook all the Hurricane aircraft are denoted by the squadron applied lettering only with no serial numbers at all. Looking at the database for serial numbers i suspect there is currently no way of marrying the two up? It might be my ignorance but only if an accident card/casualty list exists would this be possible? Any insight into this would be much appreciated.
Regards
Tony Vart

**Franek Grabowski** · 25th August 2023, 14:09

Hi
It seems the ORB also uses letters to identify aircraft, so no simple cross check. Not hopeless, it seems, but requires a bit of research. The problem is that Movement Cards for overseas are useless, so no help there, but accident cards and casualty reports may help to identify some. Otherwise, you would need to look for log books of the period, hopefully someone filed them with serials or partial serials. Welcome to the world of research!
Aside, there are some hopeless situations. I have a one with No 307 Sqn Defiants. All the records I have seen identify aircraft by serial only, and photos are scarce to say the least. I think only three are identified by codes.
Franek

**Tonykart** · 25th August 2023, 15:15

Thanks Franek

**GSinclair** · 29th August 2023, 09:27

49 mentions of 258 sqn in India

Z3755 IIb 19MU 14-7-41 Abbotsinch 22-8-41 ‘HMS Furious’ (Scarlet) 31-8-41 Malta ME 9-41 258Sq Abandoned after controls failed fell into sea off Colombo 20-10-42 FH108:25 FSgt PI Hickes safe
Z4227 I 5MU 4-3-41 52MU 24-4-41 shipped 1-5-41 Takoradi ferried 7-41 ME RNFS 806Sq 18-8-41 'Indomitable' 6-3-42 FE 258Sq Shot down over Colombo 5-4-42 P/O EMT Tremlett+
Z4576 I 19MU 17-4-41 Hawker 5-5-41 10MU 13-5-41 Donibristle 5-41 ‘HMS Victorious’ (Harley) 31-5-41 Malta ME 102MU store 15-6-41 51RSU 18-6-41 274Sq 51RSU salvaged LG.0 13-8-41 103MU 'Indomitable' 6-3-42 India 1-5-42 258Sq 151OTU 15-10-42 2RSS salvaged Charra Rd 29-5-43 2SoTT Karachi 27-9-43 SOC 31-7-44
Z5385 IIb 20MU 25-8-41 ‘Alderamin’ 26-9-41 ME 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 258Sq Shot down by A6Ms over Colombo Ceylon 5-4-42 Sgt RNR Thain+
Z5436 IIb 20MU 24-8-41 52MU 13-9-41 ‘Alderamin’ 26-9-41 ME 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 258Sq Pitot head cover left on stalled on approach and u/c collapsed Chittagong 21-1-43 FARSU repair 21-1-43 1FRD 27-2-43 134RSU 15-3-44 SOC 6-7-44
Z5481 IIb 5MU 10-9-41 52MU 25-9-41 shipped 14-10-41 Takoradi ferried 12-41 ME P.Sudan 'Indomitable' 15-1-42 FE 258Sq Abandoned at Kemajoran 2-42
Z5587 IIb 5MU 26-9-41 52MU 6-10-41 ‘Belnor’ 22-10-41 Takoradi ferried 1-42 ME 'Indomitable' 6-3-42 India 1-4-42 258Sq 62RSU repair 17-7-42 258Sq 135Sq 11Sq Stalled at high altitude and spun into ground Hundiganal near Yelahanka CE FA 13-9-43 SqLdr SG Proudfoot+
Z5661 IIb 10MU 1-10-41 47MU 12-10-41 'Hartington' 29-10-41 Takoradi ferried 3-42 ME India 258Sq SOC 11-10-44
Z5665 IIb 19MU 28-9-41 52MU 8-10-41 ‘Lodestone’ ME 22-10-41 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 261Sq 258Sq Shot down by A6Ms over Colombo 5-4-42 FLt A Mcfadden+ CE FB 16-4-42
Z5680 IIb 10MU 27-9-41 52MU 3-10-41 'Moanda' 15-11-41 ME 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 258Sq Shot down by A6Ms 6ml E of Colombo 5-4-42 SOC FB 16-4-42
BD701 IIb Crashed on ferry flt 19MU 13-8-41 52MU 27-8-41 ‘Alderamin’ 26-9-41 Takoradi 17-9-41 'Cefn-y-Bryn' 31-12-41 (Cross) Karachi 258Sq Shot down by A6M2s over Colombo 5-4-42 FLt J Lockhart+
BD881 IIb 19MU 14-8-41 52MU? 'Lodestone' 20-10-41 Takoradi ME 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 258Sq Dambulla 62RSU 12-8-43 3RFU Hit mound and crashed 1ml S of Bakori 15-11-44 Sgt JEA Kinsman+ SOC 8-1-45
BE204 IIb 48MU 14-9-41 52MU 19-8-41 ‘Beckenham’ 2-10-41 Takoradi ferried 11-41 ME FE India 258Sq SOC 25-1-45
BG675 IIb 5MU 7-11-41 52MU 26-11-41 'Fernbank' 6-12-41 Takoradi ME India 18-4-42 258Sq 20Sq 2IAF 1AGS SOC 19-12-44
BG696 IIb 5MU 1-10-41 52MU 17-10-41 'Lodestone' 20-10-41 Takoradi 'Cefn-y-Bryn' (Cross) 31-12-41 Karachi 258Sq Shot down by A6M2s nr Colombo SOC EA 5-4-42 62RSU salvage Kirillapon 17-4-42
BG705 IIb 10MU 24-12-41 Odiham 8-1-42 Liverpool ‘Boskoop’ 29-1-42 India 258Sq SOC 28-9-44
BG739 IIb 5MU 17-12-41 82MU 2-1-42 'Nevada II' 13-1-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 273Sq 258Sq 1IAF Caught fire over target and crashed Burma CE FB 8-3-44 F/O MN Kaisrani+
BG801 IIb 19MU 26-10-41 52MU 7-11-41 shipped 8-11-41 Basrah for USSR cancel Liverpool ‘Estrella’ 22-12-41 Karachi 62RSU 258Sq 17-7-42 62RSU salvaged Kalametiya 11-4-43 6IAF Overshot landing and hit earth mound Ratnap 3-3-44 SOC 30-6-44
BG819 IIb 5MU 5-11-41 52MU 26-11-41 'Fernbank' 6-12-41 Takoradi ferried 2-42 ME India 261Sq 258Sq 273Sq 134RSU 4-2-44 to 31-5-44 SOC 6-7-44
BG844 IIb 19MU 6-11-41 52MU 8-11-41 Liverpool ‘Estrella’ 22-12-41 Basrah for USSR diverted FE 258Sq Engine cut f/l Bhatpara CE FB 2-9-43
BG854 IIb 20MU 7-11-41 52MU 8-11-41 shipped 9-11-41 Basrah for USSR diverted Liverpool ‘Estrella’ 22-12-41 Karachi 273Sq 258Sq 127RSU repair Kolar 27-7-43 6RSU 327MU 4-11-43 SOC 14-10-44
BG920 IIb 10MU 26-11-41 52MU 7-12-41 ‘New Brunswick’ 31-12-41 Takoradi ferried 1-42 ME India 1-4-42 273Sq 258Sq 20Sq SOC 31-8-44
BG963 IIb 5MU 5-12-41 47MU 31-12-41 ‘Clan MacWhirter’ India 258Sq 135Sq 4RSS salvaged 11-43 1SFTS SOC 26-4-45
BG997 IIb 5MU 15-12-41 82MU 2-1-42 'Nevada II' 12-1-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 258Sq 4RSS salvaged 11-43 SOC 14-10-44
BH127 IIb 20MU 23-12-41 Crosby 12-1-42 Liverpool 'Boskoop' 29-1-42 India 1-5-42 Colombo to 62RSU 12-6-42 258Sq 1-7-42 261Sq 1FRD 1RSS Calcutta 15-11-43 134RSU 5-2-44 SOC 30-9-44
BH230 IIb 10MU 30-1-42 52MU 13-2-42 shipped 18-2-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 25-4-42 146Sq 258Sq 146Sq 1SFTS SOC 6-3-45
BM995 IIb 19MU 7-12-41 47MU 26-12-41 ‘Clan MacWhirter’ 5-1-42 India 'Indomitable' 6-3-42 258Sq 62RSU salvaged Dambulla 1-8-43 1571Flt 336MU 21-1-44 SOC 31-8-44
BN103 IIb 5MU 8-12-41 47MU 23-12-41 Sunderland ‘S.62’ 2-3-42 diverted 'Baron Herries' 6-1-42 Takoradi ferried 28-2-42 ME India 18-4-42 258Sq Hit tree during low level practice attack Kalatura Camp 1-7-42 F/O SW Jamieson+ 62RSU salvaged 3-7-42 SOC 11-9-42 FH49:40
BN125 IIc 48MU 6-12-41 47MU 23-12-41 'Baron Herries' 6-1-42 Takoradi ferried 3-42 ME India 258Sq 146Sq 261Sq Missing presumed shot down by Bf109s nr El Alamein CE 8-11-43
BN175 IIb 5MU 13-12-41 82MU 2-1-42 19MU 2-1-42 52MU 3-1-42 shipped 12-2-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 25-4-42 258Sq 62RSU repair 30-7-42 258Sq Ran out of fuel and crashed in f/l Puttalas CE FA 11-6-43
BN208 IIb 20MU 15-12-41 82MU 3-1-42 shipped 12-1-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 258Sq 1IAF e/f on take-off Imphal 5-5-44 SOC 6-7-44
BN265 IIb 10MU 13-12-41 52MU 28-12-41 shipped 12-2-42 Takoradi ferried 4-42 ME India 258Sq tipped on nose taxying Colombo 17-10-42 Sgt GC Betts safe 4RSS salvaged 11-43 SOC 31-8-44[sic] 9FU e/f bellylanded 80ml E of Gaya 22-9-44 W/O CC Betts 135RSU salvaged Birni 12-10-44 a/c buried on site
BN298 IIb 5MU 23-12-41 Crosby 10-1-42 Liverpool ‘Boskoop’ 29-1-42 India 258Sq SOC FB 1-12-42
HL747 IIb 5MU 14-6-42 82MU 28-6-42 Liverpool ‘Clan MacIlwraith’ 19-7-42 Takoradi India 258Sq 273Sq
HL772 IIb 5MU 16-6-42 82MU 28-6-42 Liverpool ‘Clan MacIlwraith’ 19-7-42 Karachi 22-9-42 258Sq 2IAF Hit by HV419 while parked Ahmedabad 4-8-44 SOC 31-8-44 141RSU salvaged 24-9-44 307MU
HL784 IIb 20MU 21-6-42 222MU 3-7-42 Glasgow ‘Martaban’ 20-7-42 Karachi 258Sq SOC 3-10-44
HL793 IIb 20MU 20-6-42 82MU 29-6-42 3PATP Glasgow ‘Maihar’ 20-7-42 Karachi 273Sq 258Sq 14-10-42 Glycol leak f/l Yelahanka 7-7-43 127RSU salvaged 7-7-43 2CMU 22FC Ferry Dum Dum - Imphal e/f glided into Jessore 3-12-43 FSgt FJ Kevin safe 124RSU repair Imphal 12-2-44 132RSU 19-2-44 151OTU u/c jammed belly-landed Peshawar 21-8-44 F/O AL Maitra safe SOC 28-9-44
HL804 IIb 5MU 22-6-42 222MU 5-7-42 Glasgow ‘Martaban’ 20-7-42 Karachi 25-9-42 258Sq e/f ditched in China Bay Trincomalee CE FA 27-5-43
HM123 IIb 5MU 4-7-42 52MU 23-7-42 ‘Sutlej’ 30-7-42 Bombay 258Sq
HV412 IIc 48MU 6-8-42 222MU 13-8-42 Glasgow ‘R.599’ 29-8-42 Karachi 17Sq 258Sq SOC 23-2-45
HV439 IIb 5MU 15-7-42 222MU 26-7-42 Glasgow ‘City of Agra’ 20-8-42 Karachi 258Sq 135RSU engine change Ranchi 15-1-44 135RSU repair 15-2-44 322MU 20-5-44 273Sq SOC 30-9-44
HV493 IIb 10MU 29-7-42 52MU 9-8-42 Leith ‘Avristan’ 21-8-42 Karachi 258Sq SOC 28-9-44
HV655 IIc 10MU 29-8-42 52MU 12-9-42 Hull ‘R.614’ 25-9-42 Karachi 17Sq 258Sq e/f in circuit belly-landed Arkonam 18-7-44 SOC 31-8-44
HV774 IIb 5MU 8-8-42 52MU 18-8-42 Glasgow ‘Canara’ 28-8-42 Karachi 135Sq Belly landed Katpadi 127RSU salvaged 29-6-43 258Sq 134RSU 5-1-44 322MU 11-1-44 SOC 31-8-44
KZ946 IIc 22MU 28-5-43 215MU 6-6-43 ‘LS.800’ 9-7-43 India 258Sq e/f bellylanded in padi field and destroyed by pilot Kaladan River CE FB 27-2-44
LA141 IIc 22MU 31-5-43 52MU 20-6-43 ‘LS.802’ 8-7-43 India 258Sq Caught tailwheel on runway tracking on landing Cox's Bazaar 9-1-44 CE 15-1-44
LB711 IIc 5MU 19-6-43 82MU 16-7-43 'Ocean Vestal’ 16-8-43 Bombay 258Sq SOC 26-4-45
LB719 IIc 10MU 19-6-43 52MU 3-7-43 'Chyebassa’ 17-7-43 Bombay 258Sq Shot down when guns fired in error by Hurricane during practice attack Chota Maunghnama Burma CE FB 11-1-44 F/O NM Scott+
PJ785 IIb>IIc 13MU 17-5-43 22MU 24-6-43 52MU 5-7-43 ‘LS.415’ 27-7-43 (Hapmat) USSR rejected India 258Sq CE FB 19-12-43