414thNFS Aircraft Inventory

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:16:51 GMT

hello Valter,

These Beaufighters were with the Americans so I would expect that there will be Accident Reports. You may be able to check this by useing Craig Fuller's Aviation Archaeology.com website and then ordering the accident reports from him.
All the best
Alex

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (SARDINIAN AVIATOR)

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:22:58 GMT

Alex Smart

Hi,

Blenheims were -

MK. V's
BB179
EH347
EH443
EH458
all the above to the USAAF from 1st October 1943.
I suspect in the Middle East/North Africa.

Beaufighters with 414th NFS were at least the following -
V6745,V8800,V8397,V8632,V8733,V8743,V8753,V8758,V8759,V8760,
V8762,V8767,V8775,V8778,V8800,V8801,V8802,V8818,V8823,V8844.
BT297,BT301.
MM876,MM878,MM882,MM901,MM907.
ND157,ND158,ND168,ND212,ND240,ND261,ND265,ND277,ND289,ND294,ND313.
KV896,KV900,KV917.
KW162. There must have been others.

Alex

Hello,
I am an Italian writer and recently I wrote a book about the history of Alghero (Sardinia) airport.
I am still trying to describe the occurrencies and accidents regarding the Allied Air Forces in this airport.
As for the 414 NFS I found the following:
KW162
ND289
ND265
ND240
BT297
KV917
All these accidents occurred on the airfield or nearby. The problem is that I just have the registration marks and dates, but nothing about the details. Can anybody help me telling where and how I can get more information and details?
Thank you

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Erich)

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:46:15 GMT

Good evening gentlemen

according to the microfische of the 422nd nfs a detachment of the 414th nfs served alongside the 422nd armed with P-61's on January 27, 1945

E ~

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (brickhistory)

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:21:45 GMT

Alex,

Photo of 417th Hurricane being refuelled alongside squadron Beaus, Tafaroui, North Africa, probably sometime late 1943, but possibly early 1944. I do not know the serial number.

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:07:15 GMT

Hi,

MM839
7th November 1944
417th NFS
John S. Lee.
Gulf of Lyon, Med.

ND294
25th September 1944
414th NFS
MACR 9709
ex 301 FTU

Details of the Hawker Hurricane would be great to hear.

All the very best
Alex

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (brickhistory)

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:38:38 GMT

Alex,

Any info on two 417th birds:

ND 204 (could be 294) crashed in Sep 1944

or

MM 839? crashed in Nov 1944. Looking for any MACR info for either of them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re the 414th, or any existing squadron having P-38s, et al on the inventory, at war's end, it was so common to have nearly everything dumped/given/disposed of by disbanding units to those remaining, that I can well believe it.

The 417th, as an example, used a war weary Hurricane while in North Africa for pilot proficiency flights instead of using one of their operational Beaus.

About the P-61s and Beaus at the same time, once a unit was converted and trained to the Widow, the Beaus were given back to the RAF ASAP.

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:49:30 GMT

Alex,

This list of serial numbers will be most helpful
in my ongoing research into this outfit.

Many thanks for you help.

Bob

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:11:30 GMT

Hi,

Blenheims were -

MK. V's
BB179
EH347
EH443
EH458
all the above to the USAAF from 1st October 1943.
I suspect in the Middle East/North Africa.

Beaufighters with 414th NFS were at least the following -
V6745,V8800,V8397,V8632,V8733,V8743,V8753,V8758,V8759,V8760,
V8762,V8767,V8775,V8778,V8800,V8801,V8802,V8818,V8823,V8844.
BT297,BT301.
MM876,MM878,MM882,MM901,MM907.
ND157,ND158,ND168,ND212,ND240,ND261,ND265,ND277,ND289,ND294,ND313.
KV896,KV900,KV917.
KW162. There must have been others.

Alex

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:33:36 GMT

While we're on the subject...

...after the 414thNFS received their P-61 Black Widows in 1945,
did these new aircraft replace or supplement the existing inventory
of Bristol Beaufighters?

Bob

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:51:36 GMT

jpeters140

Skybear,...My understanding differs....if the Beaufighter was used from 1943-1945, and the P-38, P-51, and P-61 all had dates of 1945, I would say that all of them....Beaufighter, P-38, P-51 and P-61,were all used in 1945.

A recon unit would use what was necessary for a particular mission. The P-61 had radar to locate the enemy aircraft at night...possibly the P-38s and P-51s were used as fighter escort for the P-61...but, as I don't have access to history of the 414th NFS, this is only a guess on my part.

Jim :-)

Jim,

The problem is that the 414thNFS continued to function until deactivated in 1947.
Although they did operate the P-38, etc. in 1945, it could have all been routine
post war activity.

Bob

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:16:41 GMT

shooshoobaby

Bob -
According to Brick Eisel's Excellent Book:
Beaufighters In The Night -
The 414th NFS Underwent Conversion Training from
P - 70s to Beaufighters in England.
Operated Beaufighters 12th AF MTO , P - 61 ETO.
Mike

Mike,

This is pretty much in line with my own research into this outfit
to date.

If I do come up with any information about the use in combat of
any of the other a/c (P-38, etc.) I'll let you know.

Many thanks,
Bob

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (jpeters140)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:46:03 GMT

Skybear,...My understanding differs....if the Beaufighter was used from 1943-1945, and the P-38, P-51, and P-61 all had dates of 1945, I would say that all of them....Beaufighter, P-38, P-51 and P-61,were all used in 1945.

A recon unit would use what was necessary for a particular mission. The P-61 had radar to locate the enemy aircraft at night...possibly the P-38s and P-51s were used as fighter escort for the P-61...but, as I don't have access to history of the 414th NFS, this is only a guess on my part.

Jim :-)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (shooshoobaby)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:38:13 GMT

Alex -
In Roger Freeman's Book: Camouflage and Markings,
British Aircraft in USAAF Service
Spitfire
Hurricane
DH Dominie I
Beaufighter
Mosquito
Tiger Moth
Miles Master
Percival Proctor
BP Defiant
Airspeed Oxford
Horsa I Glider
Westland Lysander
Avro Anson
Blenheim not Listed
Mike

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:13:58 GMT

Hi,

I always wanted to know which Units of the USAAF used the Bristol Blenheim ?
I think that some may have been used along with the Beaufighters in initial training in the UK or perhaps in the MTO ?

Alex

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (shooshoobaby)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:26:21 GMT

Bob -
According to Brick Eisel's Excellent Book:
Beaufighters In The Night -
The 414th NFS Underwent Conversion Training from
P - 70s to Beaufighters in England.
Operated Beaufighters 12th AF MTO , P - 61 ETO.
Mike

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:14:58 GMT

Thanks Jim, but what I'm trying to establish is whether
the P-38's, P-51's and A-20's were operated in a combat
roll once the 414thNFS was fully operational overseas.
Maurer isn't specific on this point.

Bob

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (jpeters140)

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:37:29 GMT

According to Maurer-Maurer,

A-20,1943
P-70, 1943 (Night Fighter wersion of A-20)
Beaufighter, 1943-1945
P-38,1945
P-51,1945
P-61 1945,1946-1947

Jim :-)

414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:08:42 GMT

I'm trying to define exactly all the aircraft types operated by the 414thNFS
from initial deployment in the MTO until V-E Day. I know they operated with
Beaufighters for most of this time and P-61's late in the war, but need additional
information on other a/c used by this squadron in daily combat operations.

Any help with this will be appreciated.
Bob

414thNFS Aircraft Inventory

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (SARDINIAN AVIATOR)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Erich)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (brickhistory)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Hi,MM8397th November 1944417th NFSJohn S. Lee.Gulf of Lyon, Med.ND29425th September 1944414th NFSMACR 9709ex 301 FTU Details of the Hawker Hurricane would be great to hear.All the very bestAlex

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (brickhistory)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (jpeters140)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (shooshoobaby)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Alex Smart)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (shooshoobaby)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Re:414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (jpeters140)

414thNFS Aircraft Inventory (Bob Watkins)

Hi,

MM839
7th November 1944
417th NFS
John S. Lee.
Gulf of Lyon, Med.

ND294
25th September 1944
414th NFS
MACR 9709
ex 301 FTU

Details of the Hawker Hurricane would be great to hear.

All the very best
Alex