Lockheed Hudson Serial Mk 1 Serial N7221 'MA-P' RAF 161 SD Squadron.

[Roger Freeman]

As part of my research into 161 & 138 Special Duties Squadrons, RAF Tempsford, Beds I would like to know if any members can spread some light onto a particularly elusive issue I have with the operational history of Lockheed Hudson Mk 1 Serial N7221, Squadron code 'MA-P'.

The aircraft is relatively well known as operating with 161 SD Squadron out of RAF Tempsford from 1943 onwards. The squadron ORB's record its operation on several missions with various well known 161 Squadron pilots (copy attached) Two relatively well known photographs were taken of the aircraft at RAF Tempsford and are on file with the IWM (one attached).
The RAF/AM Aircraft Movement Card 78 (copy attached) for the aircraft shows its movement history during its RAF service from 1939 to 1944.
On the Form 78 in the later part of the aircraft's service under column's 16-17 it shows the aircraft with 161 Squadron but seemingly 'written off' as 'CATE FR' (that is totally destroyed in an air accident) on the 28.3.44. It also shows in the column block at the bottom of the card a date 16.8.44 and 'CATE1' and 331 43 Group (43 Group was a RAF MU Salvage Unit based at Oxford).
I can find no record of Hudson N7221 being invloved in a crash in England in 1944 and listed as CATE or CATE1 and also no record of its final demise from 161 Squadron or its wartime service ?.
The only relevant crash record I can find is that a Lockheed Hudson MK IIIa Serial FK767 of 161 Squadron that crashed near Henlow, Beds on the 28.3.44 during a practice flight killing all crew members including the pilot F/O Baughan. This record appears to me to be a very strong coincidence with that stated in N7221,s Form 78 and I wonder if the Form 78 record could be in error ?.
Any assitance or help in this apparent enigma much appreciated.

 

[SaparotRob]

I don't have a clue but I'm sure looking forward to our "forensic team" clearing it up!

 

[buffnut453]

The coincidental dates strongly indicate that N7221's Form 78 is in error. Mistakes certainly appear on Form 78s but it typically happens between two aircraft with similar serial numbers; I've never seen such an error with serial numbers that are so different.

One thing I will note is that N7221 was a very early Hudson delivery, starting in 1938. I'd be very surprised if it survived beyond 1942/43 at absolute best.

I have a few books on Tempsford and will try to do some digging this evening.

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

The British Archives split the squadron records available online into 2 files, Summary and Record. The Summary says the aircraft lost on 28 March 1944 was FK767 (watermark makes it hard to read). The Record says there were two Hudsons on strength N and L in early March but only N does operations from 14 March onwards, no mention of P. Neither says there were any more Hudson losses in March. The RAF Census for 29 February 1944 reports 2 Hudson I in operational Bomber Command units, 4 with 38 Group or Tactical Air Force, 3 in the Mediterranean, the rest of the 87 survivors with training units or storage out of 422 built for the RAF.

It helps the aircraft card reports N7221 with 161 squadron on 5 June 1944.

The RAF Serial registers have N7221 Category E 16 August 1944, FK767 Category E 8 April 1944. N7221 Aircraft Card says category E1, reduced to spares.

W R Chorley Bomber Command Losses has a report on FK767, no entry for N7221.

A mix up marking the aircraft card, possibly the squadron reported the wrong Hudson as the loss, best to check FK767