Bent aircraft, Egypt? WWII
Thread Starter
Bent aircraft, Egypt? WWII
This grainy photograph was among a pile left by my father, ex-RAF. There is no indication of what, when or where, but he may be the one standing in front of it. He flew fighters and much later on was a navigator on bombers.
Regardless of all that, does it ring a bell with anyone, or is there anything that can be picked up from this rather featureless photograph?
(Thank you for looking. Not expecting miracles, but if one does not ask…)
Regardless of all that, does it ring a bell with anyone, or is there anything that can be picked up from this rather featureless photograph?
(Thank you for looking. Not expecting miracles, but if one does not ask…)
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Well, it's a Douglas Boston - that's about all I can offer! Looks like an RAF fin flash, so probably not a USAAF Havoc.
It looks as if the u/c has just folded on the stbd.side; prop `seems` undamaged ,and no wild `skid-marks on the ground,which might indicate the engines weren`t running....maybe someone accidentally lifted the gear handle...?
Thread Starter
All good stuff! Many thanks!
You may want to read this: Douglas Boston in RAF Service
It gives you pretty good timelines on squadrons, theatres and years the Boston was used, so if you know your fathers tour dates, you can probably take a good educated guess on to which RAF squadron the aircraft might belong to. Then its just a matter of checking the individual squadron history.
It gives you pretty good timelines on squadrons, theatres and years the Boston was used, so if you know your fathers tour dates, you can probably take a good educated guess on to which RAF squadron the aircraft might belong to. Then its just a matter of checking the individual squadron history.
Thread Starter
Thank you for the way forward, Beamr.
Actually I’ve just remembered he had some hairy times in Palestine too.
Actually I’ve just remembered he had some hairy times in Palestine too.
Find it difficult to determine the different Mks but the RAF did operate Havocs and were named as such, 23 Squadron was one operator. Photograph seems to be a Boston III.
Cowl flaps open would be typical for landing/taxi (at a guess) and if it's anything like other bombers of that era, the nosewheel is most likely free castoring with a shimmy damper. So the nosewheel being turned may be the result of the main gear collapsing and the weight on it shifting. The object under the wing looks a lot like a landing light to me, this photo shows a (retractable) landing light in that location under the right wing: 
Thread Starter
Caspar?
I’d already edited and ‘improved’ the photo, but you can have the original if it helps.
I’d already edited and ‘improved’ the photo, but you can have the original if it helps.
Thread Starter
And Fournier, you may well be right!!!
To me the closest squadron marking to the picture on the plane would 24th squadron S.A.A.F. (and I can't be absolutely sure for the grainines, but similarity is there). 24th had Bostons in North Africa and Italy from November 1941-December 1943. Would it match your fathers tour?
https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-air...29/24-squadron
also, heres a rather good picture of 24th S.A.A.F Boston with the squadron logo
https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-air...29/24-squadron
also, heres a rather good picture of 24th S.A.A.F Boston with the squadron logo
Last edited by Beamr; 6th Sep 2021 at 19:18.
Thread Starter
Beamr, these fit well with stories he told about sleeping in a tent and the creatures like centipedes and mice that they had to contend with. Thank you for these interesting cameos. And the squadron marking! They have stirred up a nostalgic nest of memories. He mentioned flying low over the Nile once too.