ADF-SERIALS
Australian
& New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
RAAF
Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib
451 Sqn, RAAF
219 Group RAF, who were responsible for finding a lodger unit for these\par service trials decided finally upon 451 Sqn RAAF. The Typhoon would have been an exciting follow-on to the Hawker Hurricane 11c then operated by the squadron.
The trials were to be as follows:
- The aircraft were to
be used on operations whilst carrying out the
necessary trials under "sand"
conditions.
- They were to be called
upon to carry out interceptions etc, in the
ordinary way, but were not to be vectored out of
gliding distance from land until such times that
they had completed 100 hrs engine time. This
included the time completed in North Africa.
- After the trials, and subject to the trials being a success, the aircraft would be used as fully operational and could be then vectored outside gliding distance of land.
451 Sqn at LG.106 near Idku under command of Sqn Ldr J Paine, having been recently withdrawn from frontline operations, would provide personnel for the tests.
At this time, 451 Sqn was flying Hurricane IIc's along with a small flight of three "Marker" Spitfire Mk.Vs on loan from 103 MU*. The latter were to be used to intercept high flying enemy aircraft that were, at that time, performing reconnaissance missions over Alexandria, Egypt. Thus an additional type would have presented some difficulties with two different types already operated.
*Two of these were BR114 and BR363. (These "Markers" were specially modified Spitfire Vs that could fly to a height of 40000 ft).
The Trial Organization
All flight line maintenance for the Typhoons was to be performed by the Squadron, with any needed modifications to the aircraft being carried out by 103 Maintenance Unit at Aboukir. The overall command of the detachment was given to Flt Lt R T Hudson, RAAF Ser#402356 of 451 Sqn.
Specialists associated with the aircraft type were also made available for the trials. These included Mr.Gale (Hawker Technical Representative), Mr. Richardson (Napier Technical Representative), and Flying Officer G O Myall RAF Ser#127855 (an experience operational pilot from the UK). They oversaw the assembly of these aircraft with 145 Maintenance Unit located at Casablanca, Morocco.
With only some three hours of flying per airframe after assembly, the sand filters were being damaged. The cause of the damage was attributed to the fitting of the Vokes Dry Type air filters in the UK for the desert trials. The engine, when it backfired, caused fuel to flow back down the intake trunk to the element, which then resulted in the filter burning. A new type was ordered from the UK on the 21st May 43, and was in situ when the aircraft reached Aboukir, Egypt.
F/O Myall flew both of these operational Typhoons from Casablanca, in relay, on the 29th and 31st of May 1943, to Maison Blanche. WgCdr Dundas and F/O Myall piloted the aircraft from there to LG.224 Cairo, arriving on the 3rd ofJune 1943.
The third Typhoon, EJ906, had suffered a take-off accident, was damaged and required an engine change before delivery. F/O Myall returned to Casablanca to fly the repaired Typhoon directly to 451 Sqn. Both Typhoons finally arrived at Aboukir on the 5th of June 1943.
On landing, R8891 suffered a tail wheel burst and DN323 had a hydraulic leak and had also experienced a solenoid failure for the landing gear fairing doors on take-off from LG.224. Pilots were Sqn Ldr Lucas (Hawker Test Pilot) and F/O Myall.
At the beginning of June 1943, three new RAF Typhoon pilots were transferred to 451 Sqn to participate in Typhoon trials. They were Sgt. L S Pennell RAF Ser #1425749***, F/Sgt. A H Davis\par RAF Ser #1290616 and F/Sgt. T Hough RAF Ser #R69424. These pilots and P/O G O Myall all were posted to 451 Sqn during the next three months.
***Sadly, Sgt. Pennell was later killed whilst performing shadow shooting over the desert, when his 451 Sqn Hurricane flipped over and dived to the ground on the 18th of September 1943.
Typhoons of 451 Sqn
On the 13th of June 1943, R8891 was readied and on the following day flown over to 451 Sqn at RAF Station Idku, Egypt where squadron pilots then carried out several handling tests over the next three days. On the 17th of June 1943, the aircraft was unserviceable due to the engine attaining 30 hours thereby requiring a sleeve wear check by the Napier Representative who had not, at this stage, arrived. DN323 fortunately had been repaired and flown over on the same day, thus training continued.
Entering into July 1943, the trials involved more and more 451 Sqn pilots. The first phase of the operational simulation came when two aircraft, R8891 and DN323 were detached to LG106 on the 13th ofJuly 1943. Flt Hudson and F/O Myall flew these aircraft respectively. Various armament testing and simulations were performed.
On separate occasions, serviceability problems continued on R8891, such as a tail fairing loss and an undercarriage fairing loss.
Whilst unserviceable again at Idku with 170 Hours on the engine, an engine change was to be performed on EJ906 during August. However there were none available in the Middle East so permission was sought to hold the airframe as U/S for spares for the remaining two airframes. Two spare engines were not dispatched till late August 1943 to 103MU.
EJ906 had also by this time suffered a forced landing, resulting in propeller and panel damage. The propeller was removed and sent to 111 MU for repair. A suitable spare, of only two in theatre, was despatched to bring this aircraft back into service by early September 1943.
The trials, having continuously performed during the past few months, culminated in armament trials in September 1943. Reports of stoppages and other armament problems arising from these trials were attributed to the lack of experienced armourers on that type.
A severe rebuke was issued to the new commanding officer of the squadron (Sqn Ldr R N Stevens who had replaced Sqn Ldr J Paine in October 1943) on that matter from the commander of 209 Group (the parent unit of 451 Sqn). This resulted in having Warrant Officer Peddler being sent to the squadron from the Armament Inspection Unit to assist in resolving these issues.
These operational trials continued to the middle of October 1943 with all three aircraft successfully completing the programme.
The list of pilots that flew in the 451 Sqn Typhoon trials were:
SqnLdrR N Stevens, F/O G O Myall, F/Sgt. Davis, P/O T Hough, Sgt. L Pennell, F/O W\par Thompson, F/Lt R Hudson, Flt E Kirkhan, F/O J Bann, F/O J Schofield, SqnLdr J Paine, F/O R\par Bayly, Flt J Trenorden, Flt W Terry, F/O W Gale, F/O S Bartlett, Flt H R Rowelands, F/O R\par Sutton, and F/O J Wallis.
The general view was one of great admiration for the aircraft. The "likes" included the 400mph level speed at 18500ft altitude, a dive speed of 525mph (Limited), the superb view out of the canopy and light and sensitive controls.
At this juncture of history, 451 Sqn commenced converting fully to Spitfire MkVc.
The three trials Typhoons were then ferried to 161 MU on the 23rd of October 1943. This also coincided with the end of RAAF Typhoon operations.
As for F/O G O Myall, he departed 451 Sqn on the 15th of November 1943 and was temporarily transferred to No. 22 PTA, pending an eventual return to the UK for a posting to an operational RAF Typhoon squadron.
| Aircraft Serial | Type | C/N | Aircraft History |
| R8891 | Mk.Ib | ? | Built
by Gloster Aircraft, 3/4/1943 47 MU (RAF Sealand), 12/4/1943 Casablanca , 25/4/1943 Received 145 MU Casablanca for assembly, 13/06/1943 Ready for delivery to 451 Sqn, 14/06/1943 Delivered to 451 Sqn at RAF Station Idku where squadron pilots then carried out several handling tests over the next three days, 17/06/1943 Unserviceable due to the engine attaining 30 hours thereby requiring a sleeve wear check by the Napier Representative who had not, at this stage, arrived. Restored to service, On separate occasions, serviceability problems continued including a tail fairing loss and an undercarriage fairing loss, all of which were repaired, 1/7/1943 Noted M/East on RAF Form 78, 23/10/1943 Ferried from 451 Sqn for return to the RAF at 161 MU, Fayid, Egypt at completion of trials with 451 SQN. 31/8/1944 Noted Cat E on RAF Form 78. 31/8/1944 Crashed on air test at 107 MU (RAF Kasfareet, Egypt), Flying Officer Off F. R. Barker killed.
|
| DN323 | Mk.Ib | ? | Built
by Gloster Aircraft, 5/4/1943 47 MU (RAF Sealand), 6/4/1943 Newport, 12/4/1943 Casablanca, 25/4/1943 Received 145 MU Casablanca for assembly, 1/7/1943 Noted M/East on RAF Form 78, 31/8/1944 Noted Cat E on RAF Form 78, 23/10/1943 Ferried from 451 Sqn for return to the RAF at 161 MU, Fayid, Egypt at completion of trials with 451 SQN. Stored at 161 MU - subsequent fate unknown - probably SOC with this unit.
|
| EJ906 | Mk.Ib | ? | Built
by Gloster Aircraft, 3/4/1943 30 MU (RAF Sealand), 12/4/1943 Casablanca, 25/4/1943 Received 145 MU Casablanca for assembly, 1/7/1943 Noted M/East on RAF Form 78, Whilst unserviceable again at Idku with 170 Hours on the engine, an engine change was to be performed during August. However there were none available in the Middle East so permission was sought to hold the airframe as U/S for spares for the remaining two airframes. Two spare engines were not dispatched until late August 1943 to 103MU, Restored to service late August or early September 1943, EJ906 had also by this time suffered a forced landing, resulting in propeller and panel damage. The propeller was removed and sent to 111 MU (RAF Tura) for repair. A suitable spare, of only two in theatre, was despatched to bring this aircraft back into service by early September 1943. 23/10/1943 Ferried from 451 Sqn for return to the RAF at 161 MU, Fayid, Egypt at completion of trials with 451 SQN. Stored at 161 MU, 1/2/1944 SOC at 161 MU.
|
Page Author: Brendan Cowan.
Opening Text from Gordon Birkett
Source: National Archives of Australia [No 451 Squadron] - Typhoon Aircraft (Operations and Instructions etc) Series number A11305 & Unit history of number 451 Squadron - April 1941 to November 1945 Series number A9186, British Military Aircraft Serials 1911-1979 (Page 205) - Bruce Robertson, Australian War Memorial,
Emails: Gordon Birkett, Martin Edwards, David Robinson,
Updated 29 November 2013
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