The Wartime Memories Project - No 32 Squadron RAF

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Information. No 32 Squadron RAF Airfields at which 32 Squadron were based: RAF Acklington from 28 August 1940 RAF Biggin Hill from 4 June 1940 I served with 32sqd in Palestine from 1945 to 1947 under Sqd Ldr West. This a photo of 32 Sqdn in Palestine John Old Can anyone help with identifying this crashed aircraft? The origional photo is 2" by 1" and the serial number is not all that visible. On the back is written Sgt Bernard 25th August 1941. I know that it belongs to 32 Squadron and that the pilot is not listed on the war graves site. Thanks, UPDATE: Looking at the aircraft, it seems to be a Mk1 Hurricane (straight tailwheel leg with ventrical fin is Mk1, wing too thick and T/E of wing at root too square for Spitfire, and fuselage aft of cockpit sloaping down to fin, pilot hand hold location in the "G" etc. etc.) The only record I can find of an accident within 32 Sqdrn, is on the 22nd August 1940, when the plane was destroyed in a landing accident flown by Plt Off J.Pfeiffer (Polish), who was unhurt in the incident. That plane, P3205 was delivered to 32 Sqdrn at Hawkinge in August 1940 and it was a Mk1 Gloucester built unit . I am puzzled however, by the prescence of a wing fuel tank, and the apparent sloap on the field, and the steam roller, and the way the wings have come off. It makes me wonder if this plane was blown over, and the wings blown off by bombing, and the roller is trying to repair the field? Either way, the date of 25th August 1941 seems at odds with the mark of aircraft, plus the only Bernard I can find of the Battle of Brittain era was an F.A.Bernard who was a Czech who served in 238 and 601 Sqdrn. Mark Morley UPDATE: I have since found out that Sgt Bernard was a Czechoslovakian pilot who fought during the battle of Britain, apparently he crashed the aircraft on a night flying exercise at Angle Airfield, Pembs. 1941. He did survive the crash and the war, commissioned in 1942, released after the war but rejoined in 1950. Mentioned in despatches 6/3/56 for distinguished service in Kenya, retired from service as Flight Lieutenant 23/7/64, 5 months after I joined the service.He was born on the 23/7/1914, died on the 17/7/80 in New Zealand, . There are some other bits and pieces still to find but I now have another address to try, in New Zealand, as one person said, perhaps he has family out there who may like the photograph, who knows but I will keep trying, all off the information has come from sites like your own and it is thanks to you that people can find out about our recent history and what the people went through. When I found this photograph, I had no idea that I would come so far with it, I thought that it would remain one of those forgotten incidents and be confined to a drawer somewhere, I am glad I took up the challenge. Eddie Smith. UPDATE: I have finally found out what happened to Hurricane Z5222, why it crashed at Angle Aerodrome, information as follows. This aircraft crashed at about 21;45 hrs on Angle Aerodrome on the 25th August 1941. The aircraft had been on an operational patrol when owing to weather conditions at Fairwood Common the aircraft was ordered to land at Angle. Night flying was not normally carried out at the airfield and Hurricane Z5222 landed before the flare path had been completed, hitting a "STEAM ROLLER" on landing. The obstruction was just 7 yards from the edge of the aerodrome. No blame was attached to the pilot, who was Sgt Bernard. This was copied from a letter I received from the Air Historical Branch RAF: F/Lt Bernard Frantisek. Number 787 543 ( 120 209 ) Date of Birth 23rd July 1914. Place Stary Ehernberk. Date of Death 17th June 1980, New Zealand. After retraining at No 6 OTU at Sutton Bridge he arrived on the 10th Sept 40 at No 601 Squadron. Transferred one month later to 238 Squadron 28th April 41 he moved to 32 Squadron. After operational service with 32 he became an instructor on the 13 Sept 41 at 56 O.T.U.. 6TH August 42 he returned to operational duty with 313 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron, 22nd 06 43 he went for a rest and then served at the Czechoslovak Inspectorate General (CIG) in London. 01 05 44 he returned to 313 squadron in the rank of F/Lt, on the 22 05 44 he became the leader of flight "B" of number 310 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron, he stayed there until the end of the war. In 1948 when the communist's took over in CSR he emigrated to England and rejoined the RAF. He left 23rd July 1964 as a F/Lt and moved to New Zealand where he died on the 17th June 1980. My next move is to try and reunite the photograph with any family he may have. I have one or two places to try, thanks to people like yourself on the internet. I had another look at the photo and I am wondering if the Steam roller in the background is the one he hit, I wonder if the driver of it got hell for leaving it there in the first place and I am surprised that the pilot got away without blame, to me it sounds like he was in a hurry (Pardon the pun) to land. Eddie Smith Spitfire Mk IX "the CO's query" Squadron markings being GZ- ? On October 9, 1944, MJ730 was transferred again to 32 Sqn., RAF at Kalamaki, Greece The aircraft was chosen by Sqn. Ldr. George Silvester, DFC, as his personal plane. Before its individual code had been assigned, he jokingly said to some of his ground crew that there was "a bit of a question mark" over which identity letter to give his personal Spitfire, because as Squadron Leader, he belonged to neither 'A' Flight or 'B' Flight. The ground crew as a lark placed a large "question mark" where the individual code letter would have normally appeared. Sqn. Ldr. Silvester was amused by the gesture and MJ730 was referred to as "The CO's Query". "I would find out from the engineering officer what letter was allocated to the aircraft. I liked to paint (I had a steadier hand in those days) and normally did this myself. I remember having a template made with small holes in suitable places." When the CO came back from satisfactorily test flying this aircraft, Cpl Tylee asked what code letter should put be put on the Spitfire? "... he jokingly said that there was a bit of a question mark over which identity letter to giver his Spitfire.... because he was neither A Flight nor B Flight". According to the former airframe fitter, the groundcrew took the initiative and Cpl Tyler painted a large 'question mark' (temporarily, using 'whitewash', he later told me) where a code letter would normally be positioned. The CO (Sqn Ldr G. Silvester DFC) was amused by this and said it could stay. Cpl Tylee therefore painted a permanent mark on the aircraft and it was thenceforth known by squadron personnel as 'The CO's Query'. [NOTE I used this as the title of my book on the aircraft's history.] Furthermore, Betty Silvester, Sqn Ldr Silvester's widow, sent me documents and photographs in which her husband referred to MJ730, in its GZ-? coding, as 'His kite'. Although I am aware of at least one other WW2 squadron using a '?' coding on a Spitfire. Patrick Watts Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch. List of those who served. Sgt Bernard Sgt Cartwright, DFC. Read his Story F/Lt Crossley, DFC. Read his Story P/O Daw, DFC. Read his Story P/O Grice, DFC. Read his Story William Burley Higgins Read his story Flight Lieutenant Peter Brothers John Old. Read his story Sqn. Ldr. George Silvester, DFC Corporal Graham Tylee. airframe fitter. Sqd Ldr West. Sgt Whitby, DFC. Read his Story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch. Add Your Story Links Allied Forces Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MMII-MMIXI - All Rights Reserved