WIX Archives
Re: Shell casings from aircraft guns in Europe
Posted by Robert M on Thu Jan 01, 2004 03:49:29 PM
In reply top Shell casings from aircraft guns in Europe posted by Scott WRG Editor on Thu Jan 01, 2004 05:35:38 AM
I recently paid a couple of pounds for a polished 20mm case that had been engraved, trench art fashion, with the following:
RAAF 455 SQUADRON LANGHAM AUG 44
This made it easy to research. 455 Squadron formed at Swinderby, Notts, in June 1941 with HP Hampden bombers. It spent 8 months on night raids to Germany, before transferring to Costal Command, moving to Leuchars in Scotland to bomb and mine the Norwegian coast. It converted to torpedo bombing, flying from a Soviet base at Vaenga. It taught the Soviets to fly the Hampdens, and left them in the USSR. In December 1943, 455 re-equipped with Bristol Beaufighters, flying from Leuchars in a strike / escort role. It transferred to Langham, Norfolk, in April, 1944 for operations against E-boats coming out of Dutch ports. This ended in October, when the Allies entered the Netherlands. It spend the rest of the war operating from Scotland seeking U-boats, disbanding in May, 1945.
I assume that the casing was picked up after a gun firing practice on the ground at Langham, and was engraved by the finder.
Robert M.