"Observer Corps"
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Spitfire Mk. IIa, P7666, in the markings EB-Z of No. 41 Squadron. This was the personal aircraft of the unit's Commanding Officer, Sqn/Ldr Donald Osborne Finlay (depicted also in this view). The photo was probably taken in December 1940.
The aircraft carries the inscription OBSERVER CORPS below the cockpit, indicating was one of the dozens, later hundreds, of funded Spitfires. To encourage national savings, a scheme was devised whereby individuals or organisations could "present" an aircraft by contributing an amount equivalent to the cost. In the case of a Spitfire, £5,000 was the asked amount. The founders, mostly organizations such as in this case, were acknowledged by a suitable inscription on the fuselage applied in the factory.
P7666 was a Spitfire Mk. IIa built under the 1st order for 1,000 Spitfire Mk. II at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
It left the factory on 15 November 1940, subsequently issued to No. 41 Squadron on 21 November. Flying this aircraft, Finlay shot down two Bf 109Es. The aircraft was subsequently passed to 54 Squadron where it was converted to a Mk. Vb on 22 February 1941, and was shot down by a Bf109 of JG51 on 20 April 1941. [Crown Copyright]
Labels: people, Spitfire Mk. II
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posted by
Anonymous on 14 Dec 2008 10:29:00
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One member of the Observer Corps charged 6d (2.5p) per person to view a bomb crater near his post. By such methods the Observer Corps (later the Royal Observer Corps) managed to raise enough money to purchase two Spitfires. The first, P7666, TOC 8 MU Little Rissington 15/11/40 and allocated to 41 Sqn Hornchurch six days later. Coded EB*Z and flown by S/Ldr D.O. Finlay DFC. Very unusually the presentation was recorded in the squadron records.
“A Spitfire aircraft subscribed for by members of the Observer Corps was presented to the squadron. Spitfire P7666 EB*Z was selected and named “OBSERVER CORPS”.
On 23/11/40 Finlay destroyed a Bf 190E between Tonbridge and Old Romney, on his first sortie with the aircraft. P7666 was damaged and repaired rejoining the squadron on 27th November. Shortly after Finlay destroyed another Bf 109E off Dover. Transferred to 54 Squadron, also at Hornchurch, on 22nd November 1941, coded KL*Z. On one sortie, after being attacked by Bf 109s, P7666 was put into a dive pulling out at zero feet, the pursuing Bf 109 plunging into the sea. In April 1941 P7666 was rechristened ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS to reflect the recognition given to its donor. On 20th April 1941 it was damaged by a Bf 109 of JG 51 and abandoned off Harwich by P/O J Stokoe who was wounded.