Following on the release of the Stirling MK.III with a 199 Squadron texture the attached Profile Stirling publication, which is freely available on the web, may be of interest as it has details of the additional aerials that these Mandrel ECM aircraft carried. The Profile for the Mk. III Halifax has an illustration of a 171 Sqn. Halifax but this does not show all of the additional aerials. I remember that Wellingtons and Liberators had Leigh Lights and aerials attached to the original models as 'pylons' for their Coastal Command role as have various night fighters and wondered if one of the modelling gurus could make the relevant additions to the Stirling Mk.III and Halifax Mk.III.
Starting on the night of the 5/6 June 1944 with a Calais invasion spoof from their base at RAF North Creake, 199 Squadron aircraft (joined by 171 Squadron created out of 199's 'C' Flight in the August) would try to create spoof bomber streams with window and jam night fighter and ground radars with Mandrel initially turning back at the enemy coast but later (as the jamming equipment evolved) accompanying the bomber streams into Germany. AOC Harris was a key advocate of the ECM and intruder work of 100 Group as being vital to the protection of his bomber crews whose losses had become almost unsustainable by late 1943. Some 199 and 171 sqn. crews were asked to forego the usual 'rest' after 30 operations so that their expertise would not be lost.
I have compiled a list of the Serial Nos and Squadron Codes from the relevant Record of Operations books (available from here: -
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Aircraft are listed in order of their appearance on operations with second serial numbers denoting replacement of an aircraft lost due to accident or enemy action together with a large influx of replacement Stirlings seemingly in the 2nd week of November. These were new aircraft with updated ECM equipment originally destined for 199 to form a 'C' Flight in August but diverted to 171 with their crews as the new squadron awaited the delivery of Halifax Mk.IIIs. An additional 14 Halifax trained crews from No 4 Group were drafted into 171 and the original Stirling crews gradually posted to RAF Tholthorpe for conversion to the Halifax. It is likely that these Stirling aircraft had their Squadron codes re-painted and put into operation by 199 to replace tired originals as soon as released by 171 but the keeper of the squadron's Record Books worked to a crib sheet of aircraft serial numbers and squadron codes that was not checked and updated regularly with the result that the serials of lost aircraft were still being written in for months after their demise.
The fitting of Mandrel and other ECM devices for 171 Sqn Halifax aircraft was undertaken at RAF St Athan in South Wales with aircraft being sent off in ones and twos until the squadron was fully equipped by the 2nd week of December 1944 when they were able to begin squadron strength ops rather than penny packet support of 199 operations.
199 Squadron
Short Stirling Mk.III
LJ 510, EX-A (transferred to 171) replaced 11/44 by LJ611 (SOC 6.6.45); LJ514, EX-B (SOC 2.5.45); LJ544, EX-D (SOC 28.3.46); LJ513, EX-E replaced 11/44 by LJ617 (Shot down by American AA, Blonville 5.3.45); LJ542, EX-G (SOC 31.1.45); LJ560, EX-H (burnt out by ground accident 29/08/44) replaced by LJ516 (SOC 17.4.45); LJ518, EX-K FTR 25/09/44 replaced LJ541 (SOC 24.4.45); LJ569, EX-C replaced 11/44 by LJ651 (SOC 6.6.45); LJ543, EX-J (SOC 31.1.45); LJ538, EX-T (GIM 5.45); LJ536, EX-P FTR 15/09/44 replaced by LJ649 (SOC 24.4.45); LJ580, EX-X replaced 11/44 by LJ567 (Destroyed in landing accident at RAF Woodbridge 5.12.44); LJ525, EX-R (SOC 31.1.45); LJ531, EX-N FTR 16/06/44 replaced LJ595 (SOC 24.4.45); LJ520, EX-Z (SOC 24.4.45); LJ562, EX-V replaced 11/44 by PW259 (SOC 24.4.45); LJ578, EX-S replaced 11/44 by LJ614 (SOC 24.4.45); LJ565, EX-Q replaced 11/44 by LJ559 (Cat 4 after surviving out of control dive @ 450mph from 16000ft to 2000ft 6.12.44); LJ557, EX-Y (last op. 22.12.44 transferred to 196 Sqn); LJ582, EX-L 11/44 by replaced LJ568 (SOC 11.4.45).
Starting the 2nd week of February 1945 the Stirlings were gradually flown out to MU for salvage of parts and disposal whilst being replaced by ECM equipped Halifax Mk.III which could fly higher and have additional range to push further into Germany.
HP Halifax Mk.III
PN374, EX-N; PN373, EX-Y; PN375, EX-F; RG-372, EX-P; RG373, EX-T; RG375, EX-R; NR244, EX-V; RG-381,EX-Q; RG376, EX-Z; RG387, EX-B; RG388, EX-S; NR243, EX-D; PN385, EX-C; PN376, EX-E; LX868, EX-J; RG389, EX-H; PN435, EX-L; RG378, EX-X; PN440, EX-G; NA164, EX-O.
171 Squadron
Initially borrowed the following Stirlings from 199 Squadron until their Halifax Mk.III were delivered to the Sqn (first 21st October) and then fitted out at St Athan. From 15.9.44 the Sqn sent out packets of Stirlings to undertake diversionary raids with the first Halifax appearing in the records at the 21st of October.
Short Stirling Mk.III
LJ617, 6Y-P (changed to 6Y-K 1st October); LJ562, 6Y-V; LJ611, 6Y-E; LJ541, 6Y-N; LJ559, 6Y-R (changed to 6Y-J 1st October); LJ567, 6Y-S (changed to 6Y-C 1st October); LJ568, 6Y-H; LJ659, 6Y-D (returned 1st October); PW256, 6Y-D; PW259, 6Y-A.
HP Halifax Mk.III
NA674, 6Y-Q FTR 09/12/44 replaced by PN169 (17.4.45 Cat 4 - swung on take-off hit building and trees); replaced by PN192 (SOC 28.11.45); NA107, 6Y-T (one of 26 Shot down by Ju88 'Operation Gisela' intruders over England 3.3.45 returning from missions), 'T' not re-used; LW623, 6Y-E replaced by MZ971 with nose art I'M EASY (SOC 6.5.45); NA109, 6Y-S (SOC 14.9.46); NA106, 6Y-X (SOC 3.10.45); NA110, 6Y-Z (SOC 8.8.46); NA112, 6Y-L (SOC 8.8.47); LK874, 6Y-C (FTR 17.4.45 collided with 156 Sqn Lancaster over Germany), 'C' not reused; NA675, 6Y-R (SOC 3.12.46); NA108, 6Y-V (abandoned over France short of fuel 26.11.44) replaced by MZ491 (SOC 2.5.46); NA691 6Y-F (SOC 14-1-47); NA695, 6Y-D (SOC post war); NA111 6Y-Y (FTR 8.3.45 shot down by nightfighter)'Y' not reused; NA690, 6Y-B (SOC 9.12.46); LW471 6Y-H (SOC 6.12.46); NA687, 6Y-A (FTR suspected mid-air collision over Belgium 5.1.45) replaced by PN171, (SOC 23.7.46); NA105, 6Y-N (SOC 28.12.46); LK868, 6Y-J (SOC 31.12.46); PN372, 6Y-K (SOC 29.11.46).
(John was helping me out on that!)
