I've done a quick cut and paste job to create the first 1435 Flt Typhoon that was roled out a couple of days ago at Coningsby, it had previously been flying unmarked. They've only done the fin so far so it was quite straightforward. I can email the textures if anybody wants them, they're for ZJ950. I also have ZJ945/QO-F and ZJ949/QO-J as currently flying also done (codes but no markings).
Yep, they were the names of the three Gladiators that held the line on Malta for so long, the original 1435 flt. Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Desperation became the 4th when 1435 flt was resurrected on the FGR2.
Steve _______________________________________________________ Quid Si Coelum Ruat _______________________________________________________
Thanks all. I didn't realise that '944 had also been done, as it hasn't been noticed on the forums yet. I assume the four aircraft will eventually all be coded in 1435's traditional codes. The history of these and 1435's inital history has always been a little vague, and some of the information from various sources and books is quite contradictory.
Most accounts seem to suggest that 1435 formed with four Sea Gladiators, but only give names and serials for three, although I seem to recall reading somewhere one was downed quite early on. I always assumed that 'Desperation' went back as far as the other three names, rather than being created for the fourth aircraft when 1435 reformed from 23 Sqn. Maybe there is a possible connection with the fourth Malta Gladiator after all?
Basically they were made up out of crated Sea Glads, four airframes in '41. Three were operational and one was used as a reserve. Although they all had important local mods. Three were named subsequent to the action that they were famous for.
The only thing that I can find, or remember, was that Desperation was first named for the Falklands flight. Can't 100% name a source on this but as 1435 became a sqn with Spits in '42 and was disbanded in '45 until '88 I believe it to be true.
Steve _______________________________________________________ Quid Si Coelum Ruat _______________________________________________________
Thanks for that link as I've always been interested in air ops over Malta during the war and that was a new one on me.
I gather according to Fighter Control forum ZK301 was delivered to Coningsby during this past week, although I haven't seen any images yet.
It seems a probable guess then that ZJ944/950 and ZK301 plus one other will probably form the initial complement of 1435 Flt. ZK300 is apparently at Warton for delivery soon so that could be the likely culprit. I just hope they stay here long enough for me to be able to get to Coningsby for some pics. Strangely, not all of these new build jets have the PIRATE sensor on the nose, certainly '950 doesn't as I caught that on it's first post-delivery flight out of Coningsby prior to any markings being applied.
i have just returned from my 4th tour on 1435 Flt, and there are plans for 5 tiffies to arrive in september. The Last aircraft is indeed DESPARATION, and not DESPAIR
as for the markings, those you have seen at CBY are not the final markings, so standby for more to be applied
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