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Post by weeman on Oct 21, 2009 22:03:18 GMT
Hi,
Does anyone know details of the Airspeed Oxford that Amy Johnson had her last flight in? I know the call sign was V3540, but have no other information, such as markings, colour scheme etc. I can find lots of references/reports regarding the fatal crash into the Thames estuary, but nothing more specific. I am trying to model Amy's aircraft and would like to model the Oxford as a tribute to her.
Regards
Andy
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rossm
Kit Basher
Posts: 88
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Post by rossm on Oct 22, 2009 7:05:01 GMT
The unit was No.5 Ferry Pilot Pool which does not seem to have had code letters (looked in both Combat Codes and RAF Flying Training and Support Units) but there may have been an individual letter. As the date of the crash was 5/1/41 the national markings would have been of the Type A/A1 variety. The upper surfaces would have been Dk.Green / Dk.Earth and I assume the undersides would have been Sky although the Oxford, as a training aircraft, usually had yellow undersides.
If you look in the National Archives at Kew for the records of Hatfield (where the unit was based) and 5FPP you may find an individual letter listed - or, given the high profile of the pilot, this may appear in something already published about her. If it doesn't then it's a reasonable indication there wasn't one (at least no one can contradict you if you don't put one on and, if one subsequently comes to light, it's easy enough to add later).
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Post by brianthemodeller on Oct 22, 2009 12:07:31 GMT
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Post by weeman on Oct 22, 2009 21:13:29 GMT
Hi Brian (the modeller),
Many, Many thanks for your information, and links. I will indeed try these to see what I can find. It appears to be very difficult to obtain any detailed information about Amy's sad death. However I want to try to do this model as my tribute to her memory.
I have only been a member of this web for a short time, but I wish I had done this earlier. I am amazed at the help I have received. It makes me feel quite humble mixing with you knowlegable people.
Best Regards
Andy
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Post by alfie on Oct 22, 2009 21:44:49 GMT
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Post by brianthemodeller on Oct 23, 2009 6:59:58 GMT
Had a bit of a break through last night!
Was having a chat with my Gran (nearly 90 but one hell of a memory for detail), anyway she worked at Squires Gate during the war (building bomb doors for Wellingtons) and she can remember Amy Johnson arriving and leaving - AJ was a bit of a celebrity, especially amongst young women. My Gran is sure the top was camouflaged (like everything else she says) but the bottom was yellow - quite a rare sight at Blackpool so it stuck in her mind. Sadly, she can't remember the letters that were on it, but, on the whole, not bad for 70 years ago!!
Hope this helps a bit more with the jigsaw!
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Post by weeman on Oct 23, 2009 19:39:06 GMT
Hi Alfie,
Thanks for the 'link' All this information is now strongly pointing to yellow undersides. Still trying to determine where the marking V-3540 was placed. This is more entertainong than any 'Columbo' mystery.
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Post by weeman on Oct 23, 2009 19:43:32 GMT
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your 'post' Thank your Grandmother very much for me - She sounds a Remarkable Lady. I think everything up to now is pointing to 'yellow' undersides. Unless I find a wartime colour photo (well, you can dream, can't you) I will go with the yellow. Just to determine where the markings were placed.
Best Regards
Andy
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rossm
Kit Basher
Posts: 88
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Post by rossm on Oct 24, 2009 6:43:48 GMT
V3540 was the aircraft's RAF serial number and should have been in 8" high black characters somewhere near the tail - just look at any Oxford photo and you should see the normal position for these.
Ross
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Post by weeman on Oct 24, 2009 17:34:34 GMT
Hi Ross,
Thanks for the info. I have just found some images of Oxford V3488, so I would assume that Amy's aircraft was similarly marked. Thankyou for taking the trouble to contact me.
Regards
Andy
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