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RAF squadron codes BoF

K

Killer Svend

SOH-CM-2024
As far as I can see, RAF changed all codes in september 1939 it means that the codes in spring 1940 suppose to be as folows:
1.sq.= JX (not T)
3.- =QO
73 - =TP ( not P)
87 - =LK
Am I right or wrong

Killer Svend:wavey:
 
Reply...

Killer Svend,

You are correct...except that in the case of both 1 and 73 Squadron, these are not "standard" Squadron planes, these are personal aircraft of two British Aces...

"P" is a personal marking of Edgar James "Cobber" Kain's Hurricane, "Paddy III," who flew with 73 Squadron, and became an Ace in France. If you look closely at the bottom of the "P" marking on the port side, you will see the rest of the marking, "addy III" near the bottom of the fuselage.

Likewise, the "T" designation was the personal Hurricane of Peter William Olber "Boy" Mould, who earned distinction as the RAF pilot who achieved the first German "kill" over France, downing a Dornier Do-17 recce plane west of Toul on 30 October, 1939. He also achieved over five kills in France, making him an Ace. He flew with 1 Squadron.

At this point in the war, especially considering these pilots were a Expeditionary Force, I'd imagine that some regulations were allowed to slacken, and pilots were allowed to do this in order to keep morale high.
 
For info, No 1 Sqdn's pre war code was "NA" with "JX" being used following the unit's return from France in early summer 1940. Whilst in France the unit carried single aircraft identification letters, and fin stripes moved to the rudder, similar to French aircraft.
 
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