Spitfire Type 300 K5054

On 4 September 1939, the day after war was declared, Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Type 300 'K5054' crashed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Flight Lieutenant 'Spinner' White misjudged the landing and the light blue prototype Spitfire nosed over. The cockpit was crushed and Flight Lieutenant White was tragically killed. For more information on K5054's history click HERE

K5054

'Rhapsody in blue'  by Gerald Coulson

K5054's crushed cockpit.
The aircraft was written-off

Junkers Ju 88 (PJ876)

Several years ago I was at a signing event at the RAF Hendon museum with Wing Commander John Freeborn. During the afternoon we had a look around the Battle of Britain hall together where John talked to me about each aircraft on display. One of the aircraft in the hall is a Junkers Ju 88 R-1 (Serial number PJ876). I remember it well as John told me it was an absolute burden to shoot down because of its heavy armour. As I have mentioned before I have recently been looking into aircraft tested at the RAE Farnborough, and I was surprised to discover that this particular Ju 88 (PJ876) was in fact extensively tested at Farnborough in May 1943. The story behind this Ju 88's arrival is fascinating.

Junkers Ju 88 at Hendon museum

On Sunday 9 May 1943 this aircraft took off from Aalborg, Westerland, Denmark at 1503 hours and landed at Kristiansand, Norway for refuelling at 1603. It took off again at 1650 for a mission over the Skaageraak. The Ju 88's crew of three were: Oberleutnant Heinrich Schmitt (Pilot), Oberfeldwebel Erich Kantwill (Flight Engineer) and Oberfeldwebel Paul Rosenberger (Wireless Op/Gunner). At 1710 hours Rosenberger sent a bogus message to Night fighter HQ at Grove, Denmark, saying the aircraft's starboard engine was on fire. Schmitt took the aircraft down to sea level to get below German radar and dropped three life rafts to make the Germans think the plane and crew were lost at sea, then headed for Scotland.
      Two Spitfire VBs of No.165 Squadron were scrambled  from Dyce with orders to intercept Schmitt's Ju 88 near Peterhead. Flight Lieutenant Arthur Roscoe was flying as 'Blue 1' and Sergeant Ben Scamen was 'Blue 2'. The Spitfire pilots made contact with the Junker's at about 1805 hours 13 miles north west of Aberdeen.
      No.165's Squadron Diary recorded the following about what happened next: `Arthur Roscoe and Ben Scamen were scrambled today to investigate a raider plotted due east of Peterhead. The raider turned south and eventually started to orbit as though lost. The section identified the raider as a Ju88 and when Arthur approached, the Hun dropped his undercart shot off very lights and waggled his wings. Blue 1 waggled his wings in turn and positioned himself in front of the enemy aircraft - Ben Scamen flew above and behind and the procession moved off to Dyce aerodrome where all landed safely causing a major sensation'.
     Schmitt landed his aircraft at Dyce at 1820 hours. He had delivered the Ju88 (that was fitted with the latest FuG 202 Liechtenstein BC A.I radar, as well as associated signals documents) into British hands. It is thought that both Schmitt and Rosenberger had been working with British Intelligence for some time.

Further details surrounding this incident can be found by clicking HERE

Schmitt's Ju 88 was soon flown from Dyce to RAE Farnborough by Squadron Leader R A Kalpas, escorted by Beaufighters. Once at Farnborough the aircraft was given RAF markings and the serial number PJ876. It was thoroughly tested making 83 flights, totalling 66 hours 55 minutes with the RAE, mostly from Farnborough.

Today Schmitt's Junkers Ju 88 can be seen at RAF Hendon.

PJ876 - Note the RAF Roundels

Close up of the FuG 202  antennas

FW 190 tested at RAE Farnborough

On 23 June 1942, the RAF received an unexpected 'gift' from the Luftwaffe, when this Focke-Wulf 190A-3 fell into its hands. Following combat with Spitfires over the Channel, Oberleutnant Arnim Faber, the adjutant of III./JG 2, mistakenly landed this aircraft at Pembrey in South Wales. This 190 was soon sent to the RAE at Farnborough where it was examinated, evaluated and tested.

Fw 190 at Pembery, South Wales

                            

     Fw 190 with RAF markings at the RAE, Farnborough

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Bf 109 E-3 'White 1' - AE479

I have recently come across some photographs that are particularly interesting for me from a local history point of view. Living in Farnborough, home of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), I have always been aware of the important role carried out by the RAE during the Second World War for its aviation research and development history, but until a recent visit to the FAST museum in Farnborough, I have not really looked into the aircraft that were captured and tested there. So after some digging I thought I would post some brief information that I have found. 

Below are some photos of a Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 known as 'White 1' of the 1. Staffel of JG 76. This aircraft was captured by the French on 22 November 1939 after Feldwebel Karl Hier was forced down after combat between Hornsburg and Bitche. Hier force-landed 'White 1' at Goersdorf, near Woerth and the aircraft was soon repaired and evaluated by the French at the Centre d' Essais en Vol at Orleans-Bricy. This aircraft was then given to the RAF at Amiens in May 1940, where it was flown by Flying Officer Eric Brown of No.1 Squadron in mock combat with a Hurricane and a Curtiss Hawk. White 1 was subsequently transferred to Boscombe Down for initial flight tests and then moved to the RAE Farnborough for additional tests and evaluation on 14 May 1940. It was in Farnborough that White 1 was given the serial number AE479. On 13 June 1940, famous fighter ace 'Sailor' Malan (No.74 Sqn) flew this 109 over Farnborough to test its performance. I believe Bob Stanford Tuck (No.92 Sqn) also flew AE479 over the RAE to compare it to the RAF's own fighters. This aircraft was eventually shipped to the USA on 7 April 1942 but it crashed during a test flight in November that same year and was finally scrapped at Chanute Field on 26 November 1942.

Down near Woerth

White 1 captured in France

White 1 with RAF roundels and british serial number

In flight

AE479