Lucky13
Forum Mascot
This is my other MTO GB project, a Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI from the No. 603 "City of Edinburgh" Squadron, haven't found a real bird yet, to use as a....pattern(?).
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VI, No. 603 "City of Edinburgh" Squadron Group Build
- Thread starter Lucky13
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Nice one Jan - a big 'un and a little 'un together then!
- Thread starter
- #3
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Indeed old boy! And, as birds like these are always seen as lassies, it'll be a big and a little sister, eh?
Btw, can't find what codes they used on their Beaufighters....just these.
RL Apr 1939 - Sep 1939
XT Sep 1939 - Apr 1942, Jan 1945 - Aug 1945, 1949 - Apr 1951
2 Apr 1942
X Apr 1942 - Aug 1942
All these are Spitfires if I understand it correctly, no Beaufighter, which they flew from February '43 to January '45 (I think)...
Btw, can't find what codes they used on their Beaufighters....just these.
RL Apr 1939 - Sep 1939
XT Sep 1939 - Apr 1942, Jan 1945 - Aug 1945, 1949 - Apr 1951
2 Apr 1942
X Apr 1942 - Aug 1942
All these are Spitfires if I understand it correctly, no Beaufighter, which they flew from February '43 to January '45 (I think)...
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Yep, they flew the Beau MkVI until October 1943, when the Mks X and XI were received. These were in service until December 1944, being replaced by Spitfire MkXVI's from January to August 1945, when 603 returned to the UK, being based at first at Coltishall, then Ludham and Turnhouse.
Many units in the MTO used only the individual aircraft ID letter, and all I've found so far as an example for 603 Sqn is Beaufighter (either Mk1 or MkVI, I need to check) X7761, coded 'H'.
I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can come up with anything. The problem is, as the Beau squadrons were integrated, and only (generally) displayed the individual code letters, it's often difficult to ascertain exactly which squadron a particular aircraft is from, unless the source states this for definite. If you've decided on a specific time and place, it could make things easier, but again, it depends what I can find in the way of pics etc.
Many units in the MTO used only the individual aircraft ID letter, and all I've found so far as an example for 603 Sqn is Beaufighter (either Mk1 or MkVI, I need to check) X7761, coded 'H'.
I'll do a bit of digging and see if I can come up with anything. The problem is, as the Beau squadrons were integrated, and only (generally) displayed the individual code letters, it's often difficult to ascertain exactly which squadron a particular aircraft is from, unless the source states this for definite. If you've decided on a specific time and place, it could make things easier, but again, it depends what I can find in the way of pics etc.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
I love the Beaufighter so I'm pretty excited about this one!
- Thread starter
- #6
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Jolly good show old chap! Much obliged and all that rot don't you know! One isn't that bothered which, only know that they were based on Malta throughout their MTO service...
Another question, with OR without rockets?
Care for a spot of tea old boy?
Same here mate!
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
If they were based out of Malta, I would assume they carried rockets Jan....
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Jan 603 Sqn didn't have Beaufighters on Malta! At that time. April to August 1942, they were still equipped with Spitfires, and only received the first Beaus, Mk1's and MkVI's, in January 1943, becoming operational in February 1943 out of Edku, Egypt. They were then detached to Misurata West, Borizzo, LG91 and Gambut 3, before returning to the UK in January 1945.
The initial Beau ops were convoy patrols and escort missions along the African coast. From August '43, sweeps over the Aegean islands and Greek coastline commenced, with anti-shipping attack also. For these ops, RP's would almost certainly have been employed. (these ahould be in the kit - if not, I've got some from my Tamiya night fighter Beau.)
So far I've been unable to find any pics of known 603 Beaus, but I'll keep looking, as there may be some which aren't attributed to the squadron, as the Beau units were all more or less lumped together.
The initial Beau ops were convoy patrols and escort missions along the African coast. From August '43, sweeps over the Aegean islands and Greek coastline commenced, with anti-shipping attack also. For these ops, RP's would almost certainly have been employed. (these ahould be in the kit - if not, I've got some from my Tamiya night fighter Beau.)
So far I've been unable to find any pics of known 603 Beaus, but I'll keep looking, as there may be some which aren't attributed to the squadron, as the Beau units were all more or less lumped together.
Last edited:
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
- Thread starter
- #10
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Much obliged Terry, old chap!
Cheers Brother! Need to look in my Modellers Data File, to see if there's any 603 Squadron pics there...
Cheers Brother! Need to look in my Modellers Data File, to see if there's any 603 Squadron pics there...
ozhawk40
Master Sergeant
Gotta love the Beau's Jan. Great choice here 8)
Cheers
Peter
Cheers
Peter
Catch22
Major
Nice Jan!
- Thread starter
- #13
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Cheers fellas!
Right...
What it says in the Bristol Beaufighter Modellers Datafile,
No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF
Code: XT
Started Beaufighter operations: Idku, 25th January '43.
UK Based: N/A
Foreign Based: Idku detachment to Berka III (1/43-3/43), Misurata West detachment to Berka III and El Magrum (3/43-9/43), Bo Rizzo (9/43-10/43), LG.91 (10/43), Gambut 3 detachment to El Adem (10/43-12/43), en route to UK via Port Said.
Reformed: N/A
Disbanded: 26th December '44 (en route to UK).
Re-equipped: N/A
Variants Operated: Mk.Ic, Mk.VIc, Mk.X and Mk.XI
Haven't seen any pics of 603 Squadron Beaufighter in the book though...
Right...
What it says in the Bristol Beaufighter Modellers Datafile,
No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF
Code: XT
Started Beaufighter operations: Idku, 25th January '43.
UK Based: N/A
Foreign Based: Idku detachment to Berka III (1/43-3/43), Misurata West detachment to Berka III and El Magrum (3/43-9/43), Bo Rizzo (9/43-10/43), LG.91 (10/43), Gambut 3 detachment to El Adem (10/43-12/43), en route to UK via Port Said.
Reformed: N/A
Disbanded: 26th December '44 (en route to UK).
Re-equipped: N/A
Variants Operated: Mk.Ic, Mk.VIc, Mk.X and Mk.XI
Haven't seen any pics of 603 Squadron Beaufighter in the book though...
- Thread starter
- #14
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Well, he he.... When you read the books pic comments properly, you know... This is a No. 603 Squadron crate!
This is a No. 603 Squadron crate!
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Nope, I haven't found any anywhere either! I think it might be due to the single letter codes, and the squadrons all flitting around half of North Africa and the Med! There are probably quite a few pics that we've seen that are actually 603 kites, but without any captions to this effect. Even in 'Beaufighter at War', which has some good coverage of North Africa and the MTO in general, there are a number of pics where a squadron ID is not given/known, apart from those identified due to the source being crew or ground crew. Very frustrating!
Choose another squadron old boy, I might be able to help you out then! You can save 603 for the BoB GB next year! Now that I can provide pics for!!
Choose another squadron old boy, I might be able to help you out then! You can save 603 for the BoB GB next year! Now that I can provide pics for!!
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Darn! Crossed posts! Just as I say we can't find any pics, and what happens??!!
- Thread starter
- #17
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Right then....looking for another Squad then, hang on.
- Thread starter
- #18
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Now, we have No. 46 (Uganda) Squadron, No. 89, No. 108, No. 144, No. 153, No. 219 (Mysore), No. 227, No. 252, No. 255, No. 256, No. 272......you see where I'm going with this, old boy? 
- Thread starter
- #19
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
True indeed old chap! Found another couple of pics on 603 machines, but they're Mk. X's. One is superb, of a machine undergoing maintenance, perfect diorama pic!
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Not a lot of externall difference between your kit and a MkX old chap, unless it's a late one, or retro fitted with the dorsal fillet. I've seen the pic you posted elsewhere, without a squadron identification given, which shows what I mean about the problems telling who's who and what's what, what!
