KEN'S AIRCRAFT

(Page last updated: 12.04.08)

The Actual Aircraft

This section covers photographs and evidence of the actual aircraft that Ken flew. The evidence side of this looks at enhanced original photographs as well as specific entries in Ken's Log-book.

Avro Anson

The photograph below is of Ken's Anson that he used in Canada - Prince Edward Island in March 1941 for Navigation exercises. The Anson had a wind down carriage and the gun turret was on top of the plane, this was known as the 'Glass House'

I know Ken actually flew the Anson below because you can see the serial number is:

'W1726'...

This exact serial number was in Ken's Log-book 6 times (see the scan below). On this basis and the fact Ken has marked the photograph with 'March' we can guess the photograph was taken on either the 3rd or 6th of March.

Lockheed Hudson

Ken used a Hudson similar to the one below whilst in the 206 Squadron in Aldergrove. He used it mainly for escorting convoys and sweeps. The Hudson photographed below has the code...

'V'

Although this initially matches 11 of the Hudsons in Ken's Log-book (see the scan below) a visitor to the site Dave Cotterill confirmed it was actually the Hudson flown by his uncle (Jim Steel) who was in 206 Squadron from May 1940 to 15th October 1940. I was saddened to hear J Steel was killed whilst on patrol in this Hudson, the photo above was a postcard owned by Margaret (Gran) but was taken originally by a 'Flight' magazine photographer on the 3rd of September 1940. Dave has all the photos and the magazine article, the aircraft serial number is T9303. Thanks to Dave for this added information.

Of the 11 matches above one serial number is mentioned 8 times 'AM792' with all flights piloted by Ken or Clark between October 1941 and January 1942. 'AM635' is also mentioned 3 times.

Boeing Flying Fortress Types (B-17)

There were 3 main types of B-17 Flying Fortress in the RAF, they were the Fortress I, Fortress II and the Fortress IIA.

I have been able to gather lot of information on the RAF Flying Fortress courtesy of 2 main sources, firstly Robert Stitt, who is Peron No. 15 in the 'People Met On The Way' section. Secondly Bryan Yates who contacted me in March 2008, he's a researcher of the RAF Flying Fortress and supplied me with a list of Fortresses that he believes were used in 206 Squadron during WWII. I have cross referenced them with the 206 Squadron book 'Naught Escape Us' and with Ken's log-book and produced the table below...

Total Aircraft= 37

Number flown by Ken = 19

Table of 206 Squadron Flying Fortresses

Fortress	Type	Serial Number	Code	Flown by Ken	USAAC	Taken on Charge (TOC)	Struck Off Charge (SOC)
Fortress I	B-17C	AN519			40-2044	01/05/1941	01/01/1944
	B-17C	AN520	X	2	40-2051	01/05/1941	01/09/1944
	B-17C	AN530			40-2056	01/05/1941	11/09/1943
	B-17C	AN531			40-2068	01/04/1941	17/01/1945
Fortress IIA	B-17E	FK184	K	8	41-2513	31/03/1942	26/07/1945
	B-17E	FK186			41-2215	09/06/1942	13/06/1945
	B-17E	FK190	J	6	41-2519	22/04/1942	13/06/1945
	B-17E	FK191	N	1	41-?	30/04/1942	12/02/1945
	B-17E	FK194	M	20	41-?	26/07/1942	?
	B-17E	FK195	L	4	41-2512	30/04/1942	27/04/1944
	B-17E	FK198			41-?	13/10/1942	19/05/1945
	B-17E	FK199			41-?	25/06/1942	14/06/1945
	B-17E	FK208	B	17	41-9198	14/07/1942	30/11/1943
	B-17E	FK210	E	22	41-9200	12/07/1942	11/03/1945
	B-17E	FK211			41-9199	05/08/1942	31/07/1947
	B-17E	FK213	C	2	41-9232	06/07/1942	11/03/1947
	B-17E	FL451	D	7	41-9231	?	29/05/1946
	B-17E	FL452	G	5	41-9242	16/07/1942	11/03/1947
	B-17E	FL453	A	3	41-9228	13/07/1942	14/12/1942
	B-17E	FL454	P	1	41-9245	?	06/10/1942
	B-17E	FL455			41-9225	18/08/1942	24/02/1945
	B-17E	FL457	F	5	41-9229	14/07/1942	11/03/1947
	B-17E	FL458			41-9197	19/07/1942	14/06/1945
	B-17E	FL460	H	4	41-9201	15/08/1942	12/06/1945
Fortress II	B-17F	FA695	V	1	27-41-24594	22/11/1942	31/07/1947
	B-17F	FA696			27-41-24595	12/02/1943	15/02/1946
	B-17F	FA699			27-41-24598	25/11/1942	22/12/1945
	B-17F	FA700			27-41-24599	11/02/1943
	B-17F	FA702	P	6	40-42-5229	06/11/1942	04/11/1947
	B-17F	FA703			40-42-5230	16/11/1942	17/01/1946
	B-17F	FA704			40-42-5231	?	11/06/1943
	B-17F	FA705	O	1	40-42-5232	10/12/1942	06/01/1944
	B-17F	FA707			40-42-5234	12/11/1942	26/07/1944
	B-17F	FA708	O	1	40-42-5235	24/12/1942	07/11/1944
	B-17F	FA710			40-42-5237	04/04/1943	26/01/1946
	B-17F	FA711			40-42-5238	04/02/1943	14/08/1944
	B-17F	FA713			40-42-5240	09/01/1943	14/06/1945

Flying Fortress I

The Fortress I was the RAF version of the B-17C of which a handful were used in 206 Squadron as trainer aircrafts ready for the Fortress IIA's. Prior to the 206 they were with 220 Squadron as trainers and a couple were used in Ops. The Fortress I's had markings like AN519, AN520.

I have checked Ken's log-book and he flew in AN520 twice on the 7th January 1943 that was piloted by Squadron Leader Patrick.

Flying Fortress II

The Fortress II was the RAF version of the B-17F of which there were 19 aircraft with markings of FA695 to FA713. Ken flew in 4 of the 19 different FA aircraft. The main external differences were the nose cone, on the Fortress II it had a one piece blown Perspex nose cone and broader propeller blades.

This was definitely my most exciting find! Margaret (Gran) had always told me that Ken was actually piloting the Flying Fortress II in the photograph, by looking into the Log-book I was able to confirm 100% that it was true.

To confirm 100% I enhanced the photograph and zoomed in on the serial number. From this image I was able to see the serial number was:

Fortress II: 'FA702' 'P'...

By matching up the serial number to the entries in Ken's Log-book we get an exact match on 6 occasions in 1943:

May 9th / 11th /18th

July 10th / 11th / 30th

Ken had marked the photograph with the date of the 11th May 1943, this matches up with the Log-book and from that we can establish who was in the Flying Fortress II at the time the photograph was taken!!