I'm looking for any pictures of polish HP Halifax from 301 RAF SQ.
Especially I'm interested in Halifax Mk II GR-A JD315. I've 1/72 Matchbox kit, and I'd like to make it in polish marking.
Photo references for this aircraft are as folows:-
JD315 M10 p56 10 Crew pose in front of a/c R
JD315 M10 p68 10 Line drawing of a/c R
JD315 FTR p91 10 Crew pose under nose R
23/1/43 lost on ops to Kassel whilst with No 10 Squadron. (This aircraft only ever flew with No 10 Squadron too)
References I have for 301 Squadron aircraft within the photographic database are as follows:-
PP219 00/00/45 HSpec p60 301 C Mk VIII
PP329 THPH p179 301 GR-P sitting on grass looking poorly P
PP332 00/00/46 F/P 3/98 p79 301 'A' on ground at chedburgh 3/4 view A
PP332 00/10/45 HIA p48 301 'A' on the ground A
PP332 00/00/45 HSpec p60 301 'A' at dispersal A
PP337 HSpec p67 301 Norway airline LN-OAT
57/90526 301 GR-A on ground at dispersal (tatty a/c) A
Does this help any?
Ian
Thank you very much for response.
I've made some research too and found that Halifax GRoA had number JD 319 not JD315 (JD 315 number was given in one of polish books - probably by mistake).
If you can - please send me available pictures to my e-mail
Hi,
The only GR-A Halifax I have is a VERY late one, probably a Mk VIII, fitted with freight pannier, grey undersides, white code letters and camoflage that runs right down the sides of the aircraft - very poor quality photo - Aircraft serial number appears to be in the "PP" range and that's about as much as I have I'm afraid.
Ian
Try also posting a request for info on the RAF Commands message board here http://www.rafcommands.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID6&conf=DCConfID1 as I believe that there is someone who regularly posts there that researches Polish airmen in WW2.
Kate and Bob - post on the board mentioned by Linzee above. As well as the Polish specialist, there is also a guy by the name of "Smudger" who psts there that has copies of every surviving record appertaining to Chedburgh and it's squadrons, and i'm sure he will help. Tell them "Taffy" sent you
Tom - i have the 301 Squadron ORB, can i help at all?
L/O
Greg
"You can take the boy out of Wales,
But you cannot takes Wales out of the boy"
Can you tell me how long a period your ORBs cover? Do you have anything covering the period from January 44 to August 44 (I know ORBs are missing from early August to October 44). I am interested in Flight 1586 and Polish C Flight and anything with reference to Fl/Lt Franciszek Omylak (lost in Halifax JP 295.)
I know that I can get copies from National Archives but they are not able to search within the records, only copy and send the lot. As I live in Australia I would appreciate your information and advice.
Frances
Halifax MKII JP295, FS-P, was a No. 148 Squadron aircraft on loan to 1586 Flight when it was lost on 27-28.8.44. (Both squadrons operated out of Brindisi, S Italy at the time.)
According to 'Lotnicze Wsparcie Armii Krajowej' (Air support to the Home Army) by Kajetan Bieniecki, the aircraft was shot down near Banica.
Thanks for your message. I have that info but currently looking for any ORBs which provide more detailed information about the Squadron/Flight's activities from about January 1944. I know some of the ORBS are missing and Greg in his message prior to mine said he had 301 ORBS. I look forward to hearing from him.
Cheers
Frances
Dear Kate&Bob,
My father Kazimierz was a brother of your father Jozef.
They both borned in Boryslaw (now it is Ukraine, tiil 1939- Poland)
I'm living in Poland in Nowa Ruda.
Please contakt with me for my e-mail.
Renata
I know your familly from Poland. I dont know enythink obout your familly but I would like know somethink...Maybe you will be ride this message and then you will be write somethink...
JD319 is indeed listed in The Halifax File as being with 1586 Flight, but not with 301 Sq, it ends with 148 Sq..
Combat Codes lists it as GR-A of 1586 Flight, "to 301 Sq".
If you wish to work with the Matchbox kit, despite its crudities, you will need to add the "Joe hole" and its screen. You may also need to change the exhausts: there is a photo of 148 Sq's Mk.II series ia with distinctive multiple exhausts. I do not recall seeing a photo of a JDxxx aircaft in SOE fit. I presume it is a series 1a aircraft with the 4-gun dorsal turret. I'm sure you can assume it to be in Bomber Command Dark Green/Dark Earth/Night rather than the Transport scheme of the Mk.VIIIs.
There are a number of improvements that can be made to the Matchbox kit: I would recommend the Falcon canopy and transparencies, and a new set of propellors from Aeroclub, if nothing else. If you wish to superdetail to kit then look at White Ensign Models for their etched brass and resin sets.
