Air Ministry Plane pixs

[Tieleader]

Hey, all.
I've got a couple hundred pixs taken by the British Air Ministry in the 1940s . These Include American, British, and German planes. Civil and military.
Here's twenty to start . If you like these I'll upload the rest. Let me know !

 

[ThomasP]

Please do. I am sure many others on this forum will be interested also.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots!

 

[Tieleader]

another twenty.

 

[nuuumannn]

wow, those are awesome. They look like Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment images taken whilst the aircraft were undergoing performance trials at Boscombe Down. I could probably hunt down aircraft serials if I had the time, but I don't...

 

[Wurger]

 

[macharvard]

another twenty.

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Hell yeah!

 

[Tieleader]

thanks for the responses. I guess I'll keep uploading them.

 

[fubar57]

View attachment 639188​

 

[fubar57]

 

[Tieleader]

another twenty. still lots more to go.

 

[nuuumannn]

A quick rundown, now I have time. A few captions where I can ID the aircraft... Post #1:

Images 650 and 652 are likely the same Mohawk IV as captioned in 652, and 651 and 653 are likely the same aircraft, Mohawk IV BJ442, an ex-French Hawk 75 photographed in November 1940 at Boscombe.

Note that the Tomahawk IIb in 654 and 655 is unarmed, many of the aircraft were delivered in this state and note that the background has been blotted out, also the tape over the carby intake above the nose is taped over.

Images 656, 657 and 658 show Thunderbolt I FL844, which arrived at Boscombe in October 1944 and was used for stores carriage and dropping. Possibly photographed following delivery of the aircraft in the UK (at Speke?) in May 1944. 659 and 660 is possibly Thunderbolt II HD288.

661 is Mustang I AM106/G (the G suffix meant the aircraft was to be kept under guard at all times) fitted with two 40mm gun pods, this aircraft was also used for rocket firing trials and later other external stores, the cannon trials proving successful, comparing favourably to the Hurricane so fitted. 662 is possibly A-36 EW998 which arrived at Boscombe in March 1943.

663, 664 and 665 is Mustang III FX889 fitted with a Malcolm hood, which was at Boscombe from October 1943, with Mustang III FX908 in 667 and 668, which was the first Mustang III to arrive at Boscombe for testing.

 

[nuuumannn]

Post #5:

Images 670 to 672 is Mustang IV 44-13332, which it wears, although its RAF serial was TK589 and was tested at Boscombe in June 1944. note that it has no dorsal fin fillet.

Image 673 is either Hellcat I FN321, '322, or '323, all of which arrived at Boscombe in June 1943. 674 to 676 are all "Hellcat F Mk II" JV131, which is confusing because JV131 was the serial of a Hellcat I. To the right of image 676 you can see the wing of a rocket carrying Hellcat. 677 is Hellcat NF.II JV965, note also its US designation F6F-5N on its rudder.

Image 679 is Martlet V JV337 prior to receiving the official name Wildcat V, which took place shortly after the photo was taken in June 1943 at Speke. The next two pictures are Wildcat VI JV646.

682 shows Avenger TR.II JZ574, which was at Boscombe in July 1944. 683 and '4 show Avenger TR.III JZ691 fitted with an ASV pod under the right wing. image 685 shows Dauntless DB.I JS997, which was at Boscombe in December 1943 for trials with its dive-bombing sight. 686 shows Bermuda I FF444, which went to a Maintenance Unit for scrapping, the lot out of its serial batch were scrapped between 1944 and 1947.

687 and 688 are possibly Vengeance I AN889, which underwent testing at Boscombe in August 1942. Apparently, the stubby exhaust produced flames that could be seen for some distance.

 

[nuuumannn]

Post #13:

Images 689 to 691 are Vengeance II AN609, which was at Boscombe in November 1942 692 and 693 are of Vengeance IV FD118, with its USAAF serial 41-31258 visible on its fin, note the barrage balloon in the background in 693. 694 to 696 shows Vengeance IV FD243, which had US-built flame dampers, which proved ineffective during trials in April 1944.

Images 700 and 701 are likely to be Kingfisher FN656, trialled as a landplane in April 1942, images 702 and 703 show Catalina IIA VA703 of 209 Sqn photographed at Pembroke dock, it was formerly an RCAF aircraft, serial No.9703. Note how the background is obviously blotted out. 704 and 705 show Vigilant HL429, the first of four of the type to undergo trials in October 1941.

Image 706 shows Mariner I JX103 photographed at Saunders Roe, Beaumaris in October 1943, 707 and 708 show a Chesapeake I, with a B-17E or Fortress I in the background of 708. Image 709 shows the first Baltimore I to arrive in the UK, AG837, at Boscombe in February 1942.

 

[Wurger]

 

[macharvard]

Post #13:

Images 689 to 691 are Vengeance II AN609, which was at Boscombe in November 1942 692 and 693 are of Vengeance IV FD118, with its USAAF serial 41-31258 visible on its fin, note the barrage balloon in the background in 693. 694 to 696 shows Vengeance IV FD243, which had US-built flame dampers, which proved ineffective during trials in April 1944.

Images 700 and 701 are likely to be Kingfisher FN656, trialled as a landplane in April 1942, images 702 and 703 show Catalina IIA VA703 of 209 Sqn photographed at Pembroke dock, it was formerly an RCAF aircraft, serial No.9703. Note how the background is obviously blotted out. 704 and 705 show Vigilant HL429, the first of four of the type to undergo trials in October 1941.

Image 706 shows Mariner I JX103 photographed at Saunders Roe, Beaumaris in October 1943, 707 and 708 show a Chesapeake I, with a B-17E or Fortress I in the background of 708. Image 709 shows the first Baltimore I to arrive in the UK, AG837, at Boscombe in February 1942.

Thanks again, especially for the extra captioning data.

 

[nuuumannn]

Thanks again, especially for the extra captioning data.

No worries, I knew those books and stuff I've collected over the years would come in handy for something...

 

[Tieleader]

twenty more