RichB
Well-known member
A place holder for this until it rises to the top of the build list.
Yes, you read right, a RAF Bomber Squadron had a Mustang III on their establishment, in fact two, but only one was used operationally. The brainchild of WC Leonard Cheshire, it was used for precision target marking on raids on bridges, factories and V-1 sites to minimize French causualties and collateral damage. Two aircraft were TOS 21 Jun 44. The bomb racks had to be modified to accept RAF Target Indicators as they were only fitted with single lugs. The first mission was flown by Chesire on 25 Jun. He flew his 100th and final mission with Bomer Command in his Mustang on 7/8 Jul. WC Tait assumed command of 617 Sqn and flew the Mustang on several mission between 17 Jul and 04 Aug. The aircraft remained with 617 Sqn, but do not appear to have been used operationally, until 02 Oct when they were transferred to 38 Maintenance Unit.
The "unofficial" story is that Cheshire talked a nearby USAAF unit into loaning two Mustangs to him. There is another reference to a Mustang III, HB937, being delivered to 617 Sqn on 25 Jun. As mentioned before, 617 Sqn Operational Record has two Mustang III's, HB825 and HB837, arriving on 21 Jun. The serial number HB837 (N) also shows up in the OR. The aircraft letter "N" does not appear to have been applied.
Armed with that, I will be using the Xtradecal 617 Sqn decals, a Tamiya Mustang III (1/48), a Vector P-51B/C wheel well replacement and RAF 500 lbs bombs for the TI's.
Cheers,
Rich
Yes, you read right, a RAF Bomber Squadron had a Mustang III on their establishment, in fact two, but only one was used operationally. The brainchild of WC Leonard Cheshire, it was used for precision target marking on raids on bridges, factories and V-1 sites to minimize French causualties and collateral damage. Two aircraft were TOS 21 Jun 44. The bomb racks had to be modified to accept RAF Target Indicators as they were only fitted with single lugs. The first mission was flown by Chesire on 25 Jun. He flew his 100th and final mission with Bomer Command in his Mustang on 7/8 Jul. WC Tait assumed command of 617 Sqn and flew the Mustang on several mission between 17 Jul and 04 Aug. The aircraft remained with 617 Sqn, but do not appear to have been used operationally, until 02 Oct when they were transferred to 38 Maintenance Unit.
The "unofficial" story is that Cheshire talked a nearby USAAF unit into loaning two Mustangs to him. There is another reference to a Mustang III, HB937, being delivered to 617 Sqn on 25 Jun. As mentioned before, 617 Sqn Operational Record has two Mustang III's, HB825 and HB837, arriving on 21 Jun. The serial number HB837 (N) also shows up in the OR. The aircraft letter "N" does not appear to have been applied.
Armed with that, I will be using the Xtradecal 617 Sqn decals, a Tamiya Mustang III (1/48), a Vector P-51B/C wheel well replacement and RAF 500 lbs bombs for the TI's.
Cheers,
Rich
