Base: Andover
Take off time: 0405 hrs.
Op: Recco
Left Andover for Hawkinge. At Hawkinge crew were insturcted to go to BOOS (France). From here they flew a low Recco north of Abbeville to hesdin and across to St. Pol, where they encountered 4 Heinkels and a Messerschmitt. In the short encounter that followed, the port engine of TR-W was put out of action. The crew immediately turned away and headed S.W as far as possible, the Messerschmitt did not follow. Aircraft most likely received damage to hydraulic system as it was landed with undercarriage up in a field near Entrapagny at 1605hrs. Crew were not injured. Obtained RAF gaurd from Entrapagny (for aircraft - until recovered?) and proceeded to BOOS via Magister aircraft. Returned to Andover on 26/05/1940 by Bombay Troop Carrier.
 | Crew awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp - Although entitlement was revoked by the Air Ministry in 1960 (read more) |
No casualties:
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No crew images available at this time.
During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)
Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:
PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950