Colin Ford
Malcolm Hooded Mk.1A RAF Allison Mustangs.
June 11 2005 at 3:04 AM
The other week here on Hyperscale’s forum (see original thread below), we had a thread running on the RAF’s Allison engined Mustangs of various marks, and the question was raised of RAF Malcolm hooded Mustang Mk.Ia’s operating around D-Day.
After much perusing of my records, reviewing pilots’ log books for clues, checking aircraft records, and asking a few pertinent questions of surviving Squadron pilots, I have deduced that the following RAF Allison Mk.Ia aircraft may (repeat – MAY) have been fitted with Malcolm Hoods in June-July 1944. Only those with a high probability have been listed.
The aircraft in question would have worn the standard RAF Day Fighter Scheme camouflage and markings for that era with one notable exception. Due to the nature of the long-range low level Tactical Reconnaissance sorties being flown by the two Mustang Squadrons in 35 (Recce) Wing, being No.II(AC) Sqdn and No.268 Sqdn, the OC of the Wing had sought and received dispensation for the Wing’s aircraft to carry the Allied Air Forces ‘distinctive markings’ on the lower surfaces of the wings and fuselage only. This was because the two Squadrons would be operating well beyond the umbrella of Allied fighter cover over the beachhead area into areas where strong Luftwaffe fighter opposition was expected – and encountered. For example, on the evenings of 6 and 7 June 1944, pairs of Mustangs from the two Squadrons were operating well into the German rear areas, some aircraft penetrating as far as Paris, checking the rail yards there for signs of German reinforcements. In mid-June, some aircraft in the Wing did receive the full markings around the fuselage, tending to be those aircraft that would be used in the areas closest to the beachhead, covering the immediate frontline in Normandy. This was as the result of a number of intercepts of the Mustangs by ‘friendly’ fighters (USAAF P-47s and P-38s rate notable mentions). But by early July, the upper surface id stripes were uniformly back off again.
Upper surfaces RAF Ocean Grey and RAF Dark Green, lower surfaces in RAF Medium Sea Grey, spinner and fuselage identification band in Sky, aircraft identification letter in Sky, aircraft serial in black. Camouflage was to a standard pattern. Type B roundels on upper wing, Type C1 on fuselage sides, Type C on lower wing, type C fin flash. The black/white identification stripes were fairly evenly and neatly painted on including onto undercarriage doors. Individual aircraft id letter ahead of the fuselage roundel. A note here that the RAF Mk.Ia’s had been repainted into the standard RAF colours on arrival in the UK in early 1943, having arrived from the USA in the earlier Temperate scheme of Dark Earth, and Dark Green over Sky Grey US equivalents (yes we have the photos to prove it!).
High probability Malcolm Hooded June-July 1944.
FD490 N -from 18 June to mid July 1944
FD563 F – from 7 July 1944
These aircraft were received as replacements to replace combat losses and had been through Maintenance Units before issue to No.268 Squadron. By late 1944, a greater number of Mustangs with the Squadron had been fitted with Malcolm Hoods.
For a colour profile showing the style of camouflage and markings used by No.268 Squadron RAF in this period, see the article on Hyperscale from June 2004 titled “Eyes of the Invasion” by myself. It has a colour profile of FD541 T, one of the ‘coupe top’ Mustangs prepared for me by Juanita Franzi of AEROILLUSTRATIONS.
‘Coupe top’ Allison Mustangs operated by No.268 Squadron RAF on D-Day were:
FD562 C
FD546 G
FD506 A – RCAF pilot on D-Day 3rd sortie
FD476 B – RAAF pilot both D-Day sorties
FD507 H – RCAF pilot #
FD498 J
FD486 L
FD561 O – RCAF pilot
FD549
FD552 N – RCAF pilot on D-Day 2nd sortie
FD495 R – lost on D-Day
FD541 T
FD544 V
FD557 Z
FD471 E
FD472 M – RCAF pilot * #
FD535 X – also fitted with vertical camera in tail
FD488 D
FD447 D #
FD471 E – RCAF pilot
FD501 Z #
* Note the oft-depicted and modelled FD472 M had been serving with No.268 Squadron since January 1944, not No.168 Squadron as incorrectly stated in a number of locations/publications. Confirmed by ORBs and pilot log books.
# These aircraft, although on the strength of No.268 Squadron, were also flown by pilots of No.II(AC) Squadron RAF on D-Day. No.II(AC) Squadron was in the process of converting over to the Mustang Mk.II and in order to boost the number of available aircraft, a number of Mk.1A Mustangs were made available for use by No.II(AC) Squadron on D-Day. So these aircraft have the distinction of flying sorties with two RAF Squadrons on D-Day.
As with all research of this nature, it is ongoing. Hope this provides some ideas and inspiration for a little RAF Mustang modelling activity.
And remember – Allison Mustang – inner main gear doors -UP!!
Regards,
Colin Ford
Canberra, Australia
No.268 Squadron Royal Air Force 1940-1946
TomCalbury
Early Mustang Mk.I question
May 30 2005 at 9:45 PM
On the first batch of RAF Mustang Is there is a large clear piece on the leading edge of the left wing about two feet in from the wing tip. It extends farther back on the top of the wing than it does on the underside. I am not talking about the landing light in each wing just outboard of the MGs. It is shown clearly in a couple of photos and the subsequent Mustang I drawings in D & S Volume 50 which is for prototype thru P-51C, but it is not discussed. Anyone know what this is? My first guess would be a gun camera but I don’t know for sure. It wasn’t there on second batch Mustang Is or any other Mustang variant for that matter.
Colin Ford
Correct Assumption
May 30 2005, 10:56 PM
Tom,
Your assumption is correct, that is the original position for the gun camera on the early Mustangs. It was changed on the later batches. The gun camera originally fitted by NAA proved next to useless when in RAF service due to a number of issues, not the least of which was a difference in the film type/size used by the RAF compared to the USAAC – one of those little things that snuck through the procurement process. Another issue was transmitted vibration from the wing mounted armament when fired, blurring the photography taken.
Given it’s failure, it was often removed and the location faired over.
Later locations for gun cameras on the Allison Mustangs included closer into the wing root and in the under engine area on those without the chin mounted .50s. They were still experimenting with better gun cameras for the Allison Mustangs as late as early 1944.
Somewhere, buried in the collection, I have a cut away diagram of the Mustang Mk.1 showing the gun camera installation in the wing.
Glen Porter
In your collection…
May 31 2005, 3:19 AM
Hi Colin,
would you have a photo of a Mustang I, Ia or II with a Malcolm hood in RAF use? I’ve seen one but it had not been issued to a squadron and I would like to do one with full codes. I’ve asked Steve McKenzie in Sydney but he hasn’t been able to come up with anything. I would appreciate any info on this.
Colin Ford
RAF Malcolm Hooded Mustangs
May 31 2005, 4:05 AM
Glen,
Allison engined Mustangs with Malcolm Hoods. Glad you asked.
I have a few, primarily RAF Mustang Mk.IIs, although a number of Mk.1As were fitted with Malcolm Hoods from May 1944 onwards on an opportunity basis. As far as my own collection and research has gone, no Mk.1s were fitted with Malcolm Hoods.
By the time the Mk.IIs were being fitted with Malcolm Hoods it was again May 1944 onwards and were primarily aircraft flying with No.II(AC) Squadron (Shiney Two) or No.268 Squadron, with 268 being the bigger and longer term user.
Volume 2 of 2TAF by Shores and Thomas includes some photographs of 268 Malcolm Hooded Mustangs provided by myself, with Chris Thomas doing the profiles. Aircraft at the time in keeping with Tac/R squadron practice only carried individual aircraft id letters no Squadron codes.
I actually had a number of AM 1/48 Mustangs on display at the ACTSMS as part of a 268 Squadron in Scale display on the weekend, including 2 Malcolm Hooded Mk.IIs – one Nov 44 and one March 45 scheme.
Graham Boak
Begging for the ultimate?
June 1 2005, 5:53 AM
Do you have information on any Mk.1A fitted with the Malcolm hood that would have carried D-Day stripes? Surely the modelling ultimate for the type?
Colin Ford
AI’m Checking My Records and Making a List
June 1 2005, 6:54 PM
Mk.1As with Malcolm Hoods at D-Day were a reasonably rare bird still, but I have indications in records of a couple that in high probability may, underline, may have had Malcolm Hoods fitted at D-Day.
The majority of the Mk.Ia’s kept the ‘coupe top’ as the aircrew referred to it, but some were fitted with the Malcolm Hood. I’ll dig and see what I can find.
Colin Ford
The Joys of Authoring
June 1 2005, 6:47 PM
My main project, which is the history of No.268 Squadron RAF from 1940 to 1946, who were the longest continuous users of Allison engined Mustangs in the RAF and used all three Alison engined marks, the first, limited edition version was launched in November last year. It is a limited edition, self published, two volume, 870 A4 pages edition. 50 copies only, primarily for historical institutions, surviving Squadron personnel and families of deceased Squadron personnel. It is ADJIDAUMO “Tail in Air” – the History of No.268 Squadron Royal Air Force 1940 to 1946. It tells the Squadron history, day by day and sortie by sortie from when it was reformed in October 1940 until it was disbanded in April 1946. Reviews of it by Squadron personnel, surviving family and from the historical institutions has been very positive.
Certainly lots of new and previously unpublished material on the RAF Allison Mustang. In particular it has benefited greatly in access to lots of personal information of aircrew and ground crew, plus much research in official records. I am currently working on a condensed, more commercially viable sized edition of the history, but progress is a bit slow as I have to fit it in between work, family and everything else associated with the first edition. But there are those who are even better at this subject than me. Just trying to convince them to publish, or to find a reliable publisher is another thing.
I know that I’ll keep pushing for something solely focused on the RAF’s use of the Mustang, especially the Allison Mustangs. If they hadn’t been, the legend never would have.
source: Hyperscale
(thanks to Brett Green for permission)
