Warbird Information Exchange

Gents,
My grandfather flew these beasties in the war. He said they always mounted from the right side -- a hold-over from the earlier car-door versions (the door was on the right).

Nice shot. Looks to be posed.

My uncle, 'Jack' Frost, flew with 175 Squadron and I see in his log book he flew MN353 on the 23rd June 1944...an Armed Recce Argentan - Alencon.

MN353 was HH-J. Losses were heavy at this time and it will need more research to establish if these aircraft are one and the same.

PeterA

It certainly was posed Peter. I got the full story from your Uncle Jack who witnessed the event. It took place early in the last week of July 1944, at strip B.5 Le Fresne-Camilly, between Bayeux and Caen in Normandy. The pilot in the photo was Sgt John Henry who, a split second after the shutter was released, tripped over the telephone wire visible just in front of his left foot, and went flat on his face.

MN353 was indeed HH-J, but not the one in the photo. MN353 HH-J was Flt Vernon-Jarvis's Typhoon but early in July he commandeered a brand new one with a 4-blade prop, MN856, which became his new 'J' and is the one seen in the photo. MN353, with a stroke of the brush became HH-U.

Incidentally, I was privileged to visit this spot with Jack on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. I had a bunch of appropriate photos with me and the location is still very recognisable.

As for the entry into Typhoons, yes indeed it was always on the right, as it was for Tempests. Although the Typhoon originally had doors on both sides it only had retractable step and hand holds on the right. The door on the left is never seen in use as early in the Typhoon's career the door was sealed as part of the precautions taken to reduce CO seepage into the cockpit. Just why there were only steps on the right, despite Hurricane and later Sea Fury steps being on the left, remains obscure (to me anyway). Any suggestions?

Chris




.

As for the entry into Typhoons, yes indeed it was always on the right, as it was for Tempests. Although the Typhoon originally had doors on both sides it only had retractable step and hand holds on the right. The door on the left is never seen in use as early in the Typhoon's career the door was sealed as part of the precautions taken to reduce CO seepage into the cockpit. Just why there were only steps on the right, despite Hurricane and later Sea Fury steps being on the left, remains obscure (to me anyway). Any suggestions?

Chris