Beurling and Stenborg....

Malta said:

As to the question of colours. What would paint codes look like, as he may have recorded.

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That is very interesting. Any comment from one who was there regarding colour would be important. If he used a code for a particular paint it would most likely be the stores reference number, these are known.

Cheers

Steve

Malta said:

My Grandfather was in 137MU in Malta, and worked away from the airfields bringing severely damaged planes to serviceability, or writing them of and cannibalizing them. He worked on EN973 ( he wrote it off 6/9/42) EP706 BR130 EP135 BR565, all of which I believe are associated with Beurling.

He records great detail about all the work done for each plane, though sometimes it can be hard to decipher the writing. i am happy to post any details if they are of interest. EG BR565 was converted to a VB wing!

As to the question of colours. What would paint codes look like, as he may have recorded.

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Anything and everything is tremendously welcome and appreciated!

I don't think there are any magic bullets, re the colour schemes, in the book. It often record painting after skin repair and patching, but never the colours used.

As to the records of Beurling's spitfires, the first he worked on was EN973 on the 10/8/42

"EN973 Spitfire
Damage bullel? Engine
Landed fuld? and body?
damaged main planes
Engine bay no apparent damage
Changing as a safety measure
Carry out check on spars
Remove oil and fuel tanks
Remove u/c jacks
f/u slight damage at port lo rod control
f/u in good condition
Tail unit damage to elevator remove s/i
Spar web checked found buckled?
Spar to be removed baulkhead attachments for test of spare for truth etc.
Tail unit removed for u/s upon other a/c
Upon closer inspection
Bottom sbd longeron found buckled and frame 1 to 6 u/s
A/c suspect w/o upon trial suggest removal of serviceable parts to incorporate service of BP845
Suggest rear portion of 973 to be adhered to front of 845. w/o loyton
A/C w/o and removed to salvage stadium. 6/9/42"

excellent stuff thanks for sharing it!

EP706 Spitfire 5B Received 23/10/42
Note report made Service task of
poss strain wing attachments
Check engine bay. Mod found 650.
Radiator valve missing
Remove fuel tanks. Highest
Engine and Oil tanks Removed/
Remove and S/i U/C jacks.
Elevator and Rudder controls missing.
Amoured Plate and Head pad missing
Breath pipe 697 and 706 missing
Tail Unit missing
Remove Baulkhead and inspect
Spar attachments damaged and
wing attachment
Spar buckled rear portion
Lad? Tredley? formers and intercolote?
damaged.
Handed over to CPL Wilson for completion
of inspection and removal of Baulkhead.

Page break (as multiple planes being work on concurrently)

EP706 job commenced by cpl Wilson
Removal of fuel tanks, engine bay.
Engine Bay u/s Removal of hydraulic unit
Baulkhead and spar complete. Removal
of plating port side, fist? bay replaced
??? plating replace s/i Baulkhead
and spar remove u/c jacks.
Taken over from CPL Wilson at above stage 27/11/42
Ex C02 bottle s/i serviced de icing pump
Mod tx5703 Rudder
Mod 650 Engine Bay
Mod 1353 Jettison device
Mod 535 elevators
1/2" Rudder tab movement
Sig tx6939/stem Bay bolts
coneel? Control movement
Throttle Control Missing
ox cradle sbd side rear of pilot Miss
Rear half of rudder base elevator tab calks? miss
Plating pulled by rear inspect panel T/A

Page break

Ox **** c/o fitted s/i
Mod 650 Engine bay, engine bay s/i
fitted note signal tx6393
Rudder inspected and passed serviceable
Sgt Marks as per sig TX5103
Take over ale checks
Inspect all control us/ rudder
T/A awaiting HT2BA bolts
Signal tx5707 Signal tx640
Mod 535 Elevators 1/2 Tab etc
Check TA check control more.
See 7 pages previous incomplete
Mod 640 Tail oleo?
Mod flow control
De icing pump, CO2 bottles
Hlles? and Haywood adapter
Bracket firewall baulkhead
cont

Page Break

EP706 Contd
Note Rudder Tab movement 535
Throttle intake missing
Renew rudder and elevator cables
Inspect complete T/A
U/C Rod U/S Replace
Remove cable and replace before replace tanks
Free fuel **** to jettison
Mirror to c/o
Ex poss of regulator valve
Tab for port strut of engine bay
Check mov of aft controls 535
Check for anchor nuts before jettison tanks
Exchange bracket? reg valve, check laking?
pipes check u/c jacks locking. Replace baulkheads
and plates, replace check. Tanks
armoured plate rear pilot. Seat cowlings
Bottom fuel tank u/s remove s/i.
Cowled up a/c sent to Kala
27/1/43

Thanks for sharing Malta, appreciated!

Very interesting. Some typos can be translated. Might be handy to have FlyboyJ and GregP to have a look.




Geo

This is the record for BR130, it may be that Beurling was the pilot. Who ever was flying was very lucky to have lived with extensive damage to cockpit, and the armour plating.

"Spitfire BR130 received 23/10/42 VC
A/C Belly landed
Engine bay u/s
mod 650 Mod tx6393
Damage to u/s of f/u
Remove fuel tanks
Armoured cowling u/s
remove jack u/c
Inspect tinest? sphere
Cannon hole c/o
Damage port side f/u c/o
pilots window u/s
Instrument panel u/s
Armoured plating and Pad u/s
Damage to sbd side of f/u
Sbd longeron holed
Mod 535, tx114, 5160tx
Damage armoured plate top tank
Windscreen totally u/s
a/c to Kala for completion."