My Father in law Bernard NcCann was a wop/ag in the RAF during ww2.
In 1944 he was posted to 644sqdn at Tarrant Rushton, Dorset.
He was in W/Com. Pope's crew and their Halifax had the sqdn call sign 9U-K.
He has three photographs....
1. Halifax in flight towing a hamicar glider [appears to be over Tarrant]
on the rear it is marked in pencil UK 223, D Day 2. [which would be
operation Mallard].
2. Halifax at take off towing a horsa glider marked on the rear in pencil
UK 223 MKT 1. [ Arnhem 17/09/44]
3. Halifax in flight towing Horsa glider marked the same as No.2.
The serial no of 9U-K is not known except that is starts with the letters 'LL'[from a photo of the crew standing between the wing and the tail section next to the invasion strips the two letters can be seen.
Does anyone know if is possible to trace the serial number from the information above.
I'm working on a scale model of a Halifax of 298 squadron which made a crash landing near my home town in October 1944. 298 was also a glider towing squadron based at Tarrant Rushton. The photos you describe could be very useful to my project. I have been wondering whether a Halifax just after operation Market Garden would be carrying d-day stripes. It would be wonderful if you could answer this question based on the photographs. It would be even better if you could perhaps provide a scan or a copy of the photographs you mentioned in the post, but I would understand if that's too much trouble.
Elger,
I would gladly sent you the photos attached to an e mail, as I do not know how to attach them to a message on this site.
Have you looked at the 38 group site, on the 644 sqdn home page is a side view photo of the Halifax that my father in law flew in . Also on the site ...'644 squadron , The Sandy Barr story'.There are several photos, one of which is a Halifax towing a hamilcar glider which I think may be the same photo I have[ judging by the cloud formations]
