Marginal Allied Airplanes (Spitfire PR.XI added [Last add?])

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: Iron Duke

Hi,

Some additional info

apr 42 No1 PRU [INDIA] formed c/o Sqn Ldr A.C.[FATTY] Pearson in Calcutta
within days it was renumbered No5 PRU [ No1 PRU already excisted in England]
Apr 42 Dutch hand over 5 B-25C's to RAF at Karachi- work begins immediately to convert them for PR work
serial no.s for B-25C's N5-139,N5-143,N5-144,N5-145, and N5-148.
Apr or May No5 PRU renumbered No 3 PRU.
May 42 2 B-25C's flown to Dum Dum to begin PR Ops for 221 Group
Nominal establishment for unit was 6x B-25C's and 6x Hurricanes
Oct 42 first two spitfire PR.Mk.IV's arrive.
It was intended to replace B-25C's with Spitfires therefore nominal establishment was changed to 12x Spitfire/Hurricanes.
Jan 43 No3 PRU was renumbered as 681 Sqn at Dum Dum
Aug 43 681 Sqn establishment increased to 20 Spitfires
Sept 43 684 Sqn formed -to be equiped with PR Mosquito's
notes:-

Although sqn establishment did not list B-25C's after end 0f 1942 they were still operated.
the 5 B-25C's were never replaced when losted.
Nearly all RAF Sqn's conducted PR sorties including IAF Sqn's

Suggestions for OOB:
Create No3 PRU With 5 x B-25C's with a unit upgrade path to Spitfire PR.Mk.???[max a/c 5] -APRIL 1942
Create 681 sqn with 2 x spitfire PR.Mk.??? [max a/c 20] - JAN 1943
Create 684 sqn with 2 x mosquito PR [max a/c 20] - Sept 1943

REF: Eyes for the phoenix:allied aerial photo-reconnaissance operations south-east asia 1941-1945
by G.J.Thomas
Hikoki publications

Hi,

just out of curiosity:

20 planes max a/c in these squadrons? Did you find any reason for this? Establishment with 12 planes and 8 "spare" planes (or 16/4???) sounds (at first glance) more likely? Asking because 20 planes in a squadron is quite unusual for the RAF (16+8 or 12+6 would be "normal" for the RAF).

K

[el cid again]

IMHO, if you are looking for slots, you can get rid of the P 51 F6 PR model. Range sucks and it comes way after the P 38 model is available.

I wonder? Is there a way to find specific stats on the PR version?
Maybe it is modified more than whoever gave us the stats thought?
Otherwise, a good idea. At the moment we are not short of Allied plane slots - but I have my eye on some marginal planes - and this is on the short list - if the day comes we need slots.

[Iron Duke]

Hi,

Yes it does look odd , and i cannot find any reason in the book other than the paragraph that gives these figures . Pherhaps the best way ahead would be to limit the sqns to 16 a/c to bring them in line with other units.

[el cid again]

Pherhaps the best way ahead would be to limit the sqns to 16 a/c to bring them in line with other units.

For most types I agree. But Catalina and Liberator units seem to have only 12 planes. And some Lysander and PR units do list at 20 in the database - so I wonder?