RAF Mossie Letter Codes

[JG1_Vonrd]

OK RAF history experts...

 

I'm trying to find plausible letter codes for this Mossie in India. I've looked but there seems to be numerous letter codes for No. 27 Squadron. What about "A" flight? What I've seen is that "A" would be one of the first 13 letters of the alphabet... (or the first third if there were more than 2 flights... not likely for No. 27 in India though) but which one?

 

Anyone have pics of any No. 27 in India. Or better yet, any other pics of this aircraft?

 

Here's the caption for the photo:

 

"Flight_Lieutenant_A_Torrance_of_'A'_Flight,_No._27_Squadron_RAF,_climbs_into_his_de_Havilland_Mosquito_FB_VI_at_Parashuram,_India,_for_a_sortie_over_Burma,_March_1944."

[busdriver]

FWIW codes were not Flight specific. I can find nothing regarding squadron codes assigned to 27 Sqn Mosquitos.

According to Alan Lake's Flying Units of the RAF (page 201) PT was used from Sep 39 to Mar 42, nothing after that except individual letters.

According to John Rawlings Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft (pages 75 & 76) no 2-letter codes or specific individual letters for any Mosquito, however their Beaufighter VIs and X had individual letters (three pictures).

According to Martin Bowman's De Havilland Mosquito (page 169) there was no squadron code.

You can go to the National Archive (register with a valid email and download the ORB for 27 Squadron) 27 Sqn ORB 1942-1943 and 27 Sqn ORB 1944. 

 

According to a quick search of the Mosquito Production list, I could only find these Mosquitos that served with 27 Sqn.

DZ695	FII	301FTU/1 OADU/27	Engine cut overshot landing at Agartala 3.5.43	
DZ696	FII	301FTU/1 OADU/27/681	Missing 12.12.43	
DZ697	FII	301FTU/1 OADU/27/681	SOC 29.11.43
HJ759	FBVI	27	SOC 7.6.45	
HJ760	FBVI	27/684	Flew into water tank 20m S of Feni 23.12.43
HJ770	FBVI	301FTU/27/142RSU	Hangar roof collapsed in storm Agartala 6.5.44 DBR
HJ811	FBVI	301FTU/27/45	Engine cut crashed in forced landing Rajalmundy airstrip 1.5.44	
HJ813	FBVI	301FTU/27	SOC 26.1.44
HX821	FBVI	301FTU/27/45/143RSU	Broke up in air after bird strike 3 1/2m NW of Piadoba 10.10.44	
HX822	FBVI	301FTU/27	SOC 9.6.45
HX945	FBVI	301FTU/27/1672CU	Overshot landing and hit vehicle Yelahanka 11.10.44	
HX946	FBVI	301FTU/27	Missing from attack on MT nr Prome 12.1.44
LR310	FBVI	301FTU/27	SOC 9.6.45

[edit I added a sample ORB page from Jan 44 they didn't include code letters like some squadrons did on the Form 541]

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by busdriver

[JG1_Vonrd]

Thank you @busdriver!

So, it looks like that since I have no other photos of this aircraft and the only photo of any No. 27 Mossie that I could find had no letter codes at all, I'll just have to use my imagination. 

 

BTW, I'm making a skin for that other sim's skin competition.

[busdriver]

@JG1_VonrdI honestly think their Mosquitos had no codes at all. Mosquitos didn't serve with 27 Sqn for very long. I could find no combat Ops by Mosquitos in April or May 1944. 

[JG1_Vonrd]

1 hour ago, busdriver said:

@JG1_VonrdI honestly think their Mosquitos had no codes at all. Mosquitos didn't serve with 27 Sqn for very long. I could find no combat Ops by Mosquitos in April or May 1944. 

@busdriver I'm beginning to think that you're correct. It may be that the caption for the photo is incorrect also. The aircraft certainly looks like it was used pretty hard. I found a bit on the pilot mentioned but not very much. He may have transferred to a different squadron and that may have been where the photo was taken.

[busdriver]

F/L A Torrence flew HJ813 on 4/5 Mar 44, his only operational sortie that month. The last Mosquito operational sortie by 27 Sqn was on 8/9 Mar 44. 

 

 

[JG1_Vonrd]

Wow! Amazing! Thanks so much.