muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 Bought these pictures from a car boot fair, all original WW2 and show a downed V1 doodlebug, a Polish RAF Mustang and a Polish RAF Spitfire. There was also another picture of 2 B17F's and I have identified these as belonging to the 388th BG: 560th, 561st, 562nd, 563rd BS. One i've identified as 230212 G "Quarterback" and the other (only the tail is visible in the picture) 230177 F "Charlene" of the 562nd. Quarterback was used as one of the first radio controlled bomb planes and was lost in the north sea 6th August 44. Charlene faired a bit better and was given as a gift by Eisenhower to the Free French General M P Koening C in C French Forces in Germany and renamed Bir-Hackeim and used between 45 -49 being finally struck off and sold in 1955 to the institute of Geographique National at Criel and was probably stripped for spares? (There is a link via Quarterback to Joe Kennedy who flew from Fersfield on Operation Aphrodite).
muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 Picture of a B17G "Georgia Peach" 398th Bomb Group 600th, 601st, 602nd, 603rd BS: Nuthampstead. Georgia Peach was in the 601st. (More info on this plane is available from the 398th memorial webpage).
muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 No. 308 "City of Kraków" Polish Fighter Squadron Nov 1943 Mar 1945 Spitifre mark IX
muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 No. 306 Polish Fighter North American Mustang.Throughout its existence, the squadron claimed 68 confirmed kills, 16½ probable and additional 26 damaged. In addition, the crews of the 306 downed 59 enemy V1 rockets It was disbanded in December 1946.
muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 And this could be one of those downed V1's?
muckaroon1960 Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 Polish Pilot standing by an unrecognisable German aircraft wreck?
TacHel Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 Great pics! I love originals like this that were never previously published. The Spit profile is simply superb!! My guess on the wreck is a late model 109, from the shape of the burned out elevators.
Mervyn Mitton Posted March 19, 2012 Posted March 19, 2012 Muckaroon - a great find. The one of the V1 rocket is particularly interesting - still in good condition. However, they have taken off the one ton warhead. Some of the Squadrons with Polish links may like to see these ? Mervyn
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