A Luftwaffe airfield ‘Somewhere In France’? No - this is RAF Collyweston, home of 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight, formed to demonstrate the capabilities and features of captured aircraft to RAF and USAAF personnel at airfields around Britain. A thread of images. 📷 IWM (CH 15623) 🧵 1/11 - ThreadSky

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social • 100 days ago

A Luftwaffe airfield ‘Somewhere In France’? No - this is RAF Collyweston, home of 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight, formed to demonstrate the capabilities and features of captured aircraft to RAF and USAAF personnel at airfields around Britain. A thread of images.
📷 IWM (CH 15623)
🧵 1/11

Comments

deccers.bsky.social•100 days ago

Great thread and photos

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Junkers 88S TS472 was captured at Villacoublay near Paris in September 1944 and went straight to 1426 Flight, but only saw limited use. Focke-Wulf 190A PN999, formerly of SKG 10, landed in error at RAF Manston in May 1943 after becoming lost during a night sortie.
📷IWM (CH 15610)
🧵2/11

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Junkers 88 EE205, temporarily in Luftwaffe markings again for an appearance in the 1943 film ‘The Adventures of Tartu’. Originally from 3/KG 30, it landed in error at Lulsgate Bottom airfield after a night raid on Birkenhead in July 1941.
📷IWM (CH 15606)
🧵3/11

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Junkers 88 HM509 was formerly of Küstenfliegergruppe 106. It mistakenly landed at Chivenor in Devon after an anti-shipping sortie over the Irish Sea in November 1941. It was damaged in a ground loop in May 1944 and used for spare parts.
📷IWM (HU 93021)
🧵4/11

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Messerschmitt 110C AX772, previously of 4(F)/14, which belly landed near Goodwood racecourse after being intercepted during a reconnaissance sortie. After extensive evaluation, it was operated by 1426 Flight from March 1942 to January 1945.
📷IWM (HU 93008)
🧵5/11

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Messerschmitt 410 TF209 was captured in November 1943 at Monte Corvino airfield in Italy after a crew from 2(F)/122 got lost on the return leg of a reconnaissance sortie. It was shipped to Britain and underwent extensive testing.
📷 IWM (CH 15616)
🧵6/11

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Heinkel 111 AW177 , ex-KG 26, made a good landing near Berwick after an engagement with Spitfires in February 1940. While serving with 1426 Flight, it was often used to transport groundcrew. It crashed at Polebrook in November 1943, killing six passengers and the pilot.
📷 IWM (MH 31314)
🧵7/11

bowman120.bsky.social•100 days ago

Fascinating thread - had no idea there were quite so many captured aircraft flown and tested.

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Thanks! Believe it or not, that’s just a selection - there were a lot more. The Luftwaffe had some serious navigation issues at times…

johnssomeshow.bsky.social•100 days ago

The Heinkel 111 on display at Hendon was captured and sat at station 150 -RAF Boxted a mile up the road from me at the end of the war

navalairhistory.com•100 days ago

One that always surprised me for not going to 1426 Flight was the ex-Danish Fw 200 A that was impounded then transferred to BOAC. It was an airliner version of course but I would have thought it would be of some use to analyse it

jamiemctrusty.bsky.social•100 days ago

Yes, that’s a good shout given the issues being caused by Condors at the time. Could have been very helpful in working out capabilities, defensive tactics etc.

simonhul.bsky.social•100 days ago

Great thread. Amazing pictures

goodnrg.bsky.social•98 days ago

Fantastic thread…. And so glad to have found you here where the sky is blue!

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply