Fortress entries… and beyond

[robstitt]

Hi Jagan,

Thanks. I take it the three-line table in the example includes the contents of the notes. Is that correct?

I was thinking of populating the Notes with operational unit allocation(s) with a date for the first one, loss date if any and/or SOC date OR any non-operational circumstances such only used for testing or not delivered.

Assume I would keep details of any fatal loss for the second Excel sheet.

Am I on track?

Robert

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
In regard to the Fortresses been given the 'GR' reference.
From what I see on the list of '' only two aircraft have the 'GR' reference. I may be wrong but those two losses(?) were late WW2 .
So maybe it was some new instruction given in regard to Coastal/Maritime Squadron's, if so wouldn't there be a paper trail that could exist to confirm the use of the term?
Or perhaps other aircraft in use or previous use by the Squadron’s have been 'GR' types so naturally office staff would 'normally ' use the term when writing up documents ?
Just putting it out there -
Alex

PS.
If interested some time ago I made a list of RAF B-17's, references were the AB RAF serial number books, AA100-AZ999,FA100-FZ999, HA100-HZ999, KA100 - KZ999, SA100 - VZ999. 'The British Air Commission & Lend - Lease, and The B-17 Flying Fortress Story' by Roger A,Freeman as well as the now old RAF Bomber Squadron book and the 'Coastal Support and Special Squadron’s and Flying Training and Support Units since 1912.

[Jagan]

Rob

Yes you got it right for both examples. One for a notes. Other only to query losses.

[robstitt]

Thanks, Jagan. Will proceed on that basis.

Scope for now will be the 20 Fortress Is, the 45 Fortress IIAs and the 19 Fortress IIs, the latter two marks being Coastal Command-related and the Fortress Is being a book follow-on project, some also CC.

I’m not that familiar with the Fortress IIIs except the three examples that went to Coastal Command which I’ll also address.

Thanks for the offer Alex. Think I’m OK within the above scope but would be very happy to see your listing.

I recall that the Fortress pilot notes use the GR (General Reconnaissance) prefix on the cover. I left it out in my book, with the exception of saying it was part of the full designation, as it would have been too clumsy to use continuously.

It does raise the question of whether/when prefixes should be used in the databases and I’m still not sure about suffixes always being capitalized, my understanding although I recall Wellington Ic being used in several books for example. Would be good to agree on an approach to prefixes and suffixes as these type review efforts are underway.

Robert

[Alex Smart]

Hi Robert,
Have sent you an e-mail.
Alex