This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:46 pm
JX242 was a Royal Air Force Catalina IVA built by Consolidated at San Diego with c/n 1409. After initially being on the strength of the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Helensburgh in Scotland where it was used for de-icing trials it went to 202 Squadron. It was lost on 20th November, 1944 when it flew into a high ground at Mago Hill, Church Hill, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland at night whilst returning from a patrol.
Last edited by
David Legg on Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:46 am
I have just made an amendment to the above posting as the MAEE was not based at Beaumaris as I mistakenly stated but at Helensburgh in Scotland. Too much Christmas spirit? I have some more info on the Catalina (but no photos) and will post it later today time permitting.
Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:32 am
Robin60 - just a little more info on JX242 for you...
JX242 was delivered Gander Lake - Largs, Scotland on 12th/13th September 1943 and then flew on to the Saunders Roe facility at Beaumaris, Anglesy from Largs on the next day for post-delivery conversion to RAF standard. It was beached on the 15th and went back onto the water on the 26th, had a test flight on the next day and was then out of the water again between 29th September and October 12th when it was flown to the MAEE at Helensburgh by pilot 'Swaffin'. At some point in September its IFF Mk III equipment was tested by the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment. As the A&AEE was land-based at Boscombe Down and JX242 vwas not an amphibian, the location for this testing must have been elsewhere, quite possibly at Beaumaris during the period 27th - 29th September. At the MAEE Helensburgh, it was used for tests of thermal de-icing of the wings using engine exhaust and of a fuel-burning heater to warm the empannage. These methods were approved in early-1944 and at some point after that it went to 202 Squadron for operational use, being based at Castle Archdale in Northern Ireland, subsequently being lost on November 20th, 1944 as per my earlier e-mail.
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