**** DONE: 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vc - Pacific Theatre of Operations II

[Vic Balshaw]

Username: Vic Balshaw
First name: Vic
Category: Judge – Non competing
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Special Hobbies – 48091

Extras: Ventura VA 4821 decal set, Rising Decals RD48013 detailing set, Eduard ED49426 PE detail set, Eduards EDEX259 mask set, Eduard Brass Undercarriage set 48124 and Air Master Hispano 20mm cannon.

My subject is Flt Lt Edward Hall RAAF who flew out of Darwin in Spitfire Mk.Vc (Trop) Ser No BS186 with 452 Squadron.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I have pulled this one over from BG 20 where it sat untouched, though often stared ant and contemplated over. The only changes is me digging into my purse and adding more extra detailing sets.

Flt Lt EDWARD SMITH "TEDDY" HALL

Born in Sydney on 10 March 1918, Teddy Hall worked as a grazier in Werris Creek, NSW, before his enlistment on 13 November 1940. Sent to the UK, he was initially posted to 129 Squadron, where he became a Flight Commander, flying Spitfires. On 18 August 1942, he shared in the destruction of a He 59, and probably destroyed a He 115 over Cherbourg. Sent back to Australia in late 1942, Hall was posted to 452 Squadron, Darwin, were No 1 Fighter Wing RAAF was forming and training to take over the defence of the North West Australia. Hall became the Flight Commander of 'A' Flight. All his remaining claims were in this theatre. He was later posted to 105 Fighter Control Unit, before his discharge on 3 November 1944.

His Pacific Theatre combat claims were:
15 March 1943 452 Sqn Spitfire A6M Zero Darwin A/C BS186
2 May 1943 452 Sqn Spitfire A6M Zero Darwin A/C BS186
30 June 1943 452 Sqn Spitfire A6M Zero Peron Island A/C BS186
6 July 1943 452 Sqn Spitfire A6M Zero Anson Bay A/C BS186
Extracted from: Pacific Victory Roll - Pilots D - H

BS186 arrived in Australia aboard the SS Hoperidge on 23 October 1942 with the official transfer from the UK to Australian charge taking place in November, at some stage the aircraft was also allocated the Australian serial number A58-74. Allocated to 452 Squadron it was given the code letter 'L' and named 'UML Overdale', the squadron code of 'QY' was not added until later. The aircraft also had a tropical filter (for which I extend my thanks to Karl, who kindly supplied it), and also sported the smaller de Havilland spinner and propeller without the cuffs on the blades. Apart from a number of trips to 7 RSU (Repair Service Unit) or to 14 ARD (Aircraft Repair Depot) BS 186The aircraft remained with the squadron until 27 March 1944 when it was through a number of moves, transferred to 1 EU (Engineering School) as an instructional airframe. It was eventually offered for disposal in April 1946.
Extracted from: Welcome to ADF Serials

 

[Catch22]

Cool Vic, nice to have one up and running!

 

[Crimea_River]

Good one Vic.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Excellent!

 

[N4521U]

Ah.... a sister ship to my GB8 Commonwealth Spit of Raymond Therold-Smith who was from Manly, NSW.

Lots of extras matey, will be good to watch this one underway.

 

[woody]

Nice one Vic.

 

[destrozas]

excellent, nice one, amount of extras that you will look great shalt put

 

[Wildcat]

Good stuff Vic, looking forward to seeing her built.

 

[ozhawk40]

Ahhh! A Darwin spitty. Great to see Vic, should be good.

 

[Wayne Little]

look forward to it Vic.

 

[Wurger]

 

[parsifal]

Nice choice Vic. From the history background you posted this aircraft fought in all the climactic battles over Darwin, through that wings lows then its eventual victory. Im really looking forward to seeing this "in the flesh"

 

[N4521U]

Have you come across this in the National Archives?

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp

 

[fubar57]

All right Vic, Spitfire part 2

Geo

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Have you come across this in the National Archives?

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp

Couldn't get the link to work Bill

 

[N4521U]

Dam..................... it was his service record, somehow it came up and I didn't know if you had seen it. Now I can't find it, shoulda bookmarked it. sorry.

 

[T Bolt]

Looks like you're going all out with all those extras. I will be watching!

 

[dneid]

I am looking forward to watching this one come together, Vic.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks for the comments gents, I needed something to shift my butt.

So my drought has broken. At last I've got beyond just looking in the box!............................It's not much, but its a start.