24 sqdn Percival Vega Gull

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Member for

13 years 1 month

Posts: 145

Hi Can anybody identify a Percival Vega Gull used by Lord Lloyd on August 1st 1940. The aircraft was escorted by the three 46 Sqdn Hurricanes from North Coates to Hendon on that date. presumably the Vega Gull was a 24 Sqdn machine of which they has at least one on squadron strength. The aircraft had departed fom Hendon the previous day
Any help is much appreciated

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Member for

12 years 5 months

Posts: 797

I believe the AM ordered 15 Vegas, of which 11 are reputed to have served with 24 Sqn. I do not have access to primary sources to confirm this however, so you'd need to check.

' With the outbreak of the Second World War the squadron acquired more civil airliners which were impressed for wartime service. It provided a detachment in France to run a courier services, but with the withdrawal of British troops it was soon used to evacuate men back to England. Former British Airways and Imperial Airways aircraft were put to use on a network of communications flights including trips to Gibraltar and later Malta. The squadron also performed ambulance flights when required.'

The above, unverified, from the www.

That's all I can see on the scant info you have........ :-)

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

"In 1938 the RAF ordered 12 Vega Gulls IIIs as communications aircraft, and the first 6 were delivered to to 24 Squadron, serials P1749-P1754 in November 1938. 5 more were delivered before the war, from the second batch of 8 aircraft. They were all used extensively in the build up to the fall of France in 1940. P1751 was damaged beyond repair by enemy aircraft on the 16th May 1940, and P1749 was destroyed in an air raid at Hendon. Vega Gull P1752 was damaged during a forced landing in very bad weather on Wentworth Golf Course in January 1940, luckily no one was injured."
http://www.24sqnassociation.royalairforce.net/Downloads/24%20Issue17.pdf

Member for

17 years 7 months

Posts: 1,861

Have a look here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D8409770 the 'record of events' for August 1940 should contain the info you need and all the flights for the squadron that month.. Thats if the squadron were diligent filling it out, not all were, but worth a go at £3.24 for the pdf.

No entry for the 1st Aug 1940 :(

Member for

13 years 1 month

Posts: 145

Thanks Guys.
It seems strange that this flight wasnt recorded. I have checked the 24 Sqdn ORB for both July and August and there is no mention although Vega Gull P1754 was in use in July. The ORB for 46 Sqdn shows that three Hurricanes P3601, 602 and 603 escorted the Vega Gull fron Hendon on the 31st and again on the return trip on August 1st. Why 24 Sqdn havnt recorded this is a mystery
Thanks for all your help and suggestions but it looks like this one is an escapee