6 Sqn Hawker Tempests 1947 F/L/ D.W. Sturgeon

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Morning all, just a quick brain pick if I may.

My old mate Doug Sturgeon who sadly passed away a couple of years ago had a fascinating RAF career beginning as a pre-war armourer on 19 Sqn at DX then trained as a pilot (twice!) at Sywell before going on to Whirlwinds with 263 Sqn thence Typhoons and Mossies.

On 25th February 1947 he was ferrying a Tempest V from (I think) El Adem, when it developed an engine fault and he had to bail out over the Med. He floated in his dinghy for a number of days before being picked up by a Royal Navy ship (he punched a Petty Officer but that's another story)

Long story short, I would like to make a model of his Tempest - would it be in silver or camo at this stage and does anyone know the serial number of the machine involved?

TT

Original post

Member for

14 years

Posts: 28

Hi TT,

Can't tie down the serial number, but in that timeframe it (technically) would have been a Tempest VI.

Colour scheme in that timeframe should still be the wartime dark green/ocean grey/medium sea grey colour scheme, with a sky tail band and wartime Type "C" national markings. The overall silver scheme was introduced in late 1947.

This is only very generalised info - for specifics, Chris Thomas is one of the Typhoon/Tempest experts and I am sure he will be able to tie down a serial number, individual code letter ("JV" was 6 Squadron's code) etc.

Think he used to be on here, he is certainly active on the Britmodeller forum.

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Sky Dancer, thats brilliant thanks very much for your kind help! ATB TT

Member for

20 years

Posts: 4,561

Absolutely brilliant thank you Mr Rat- old Douggie meant the world to me, he left me his Caterpillar badge from this incident in his will. This is brilliant info- thank you again- top man!

TT