Dunkirk 1940 photos. Some never seen before .

Discussion in '1940' started by morrisc8, Jan 22, 2018.

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What would you like to see in the photos i put up.

Poll closed Jan 20, 2024.
  1. more

    6 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. less

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. What sort of photos, Ships, boats, trucks ,Town

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    No 541 Squadron formed in October 1942...eyes from the sky.One of the PR squadrons out of RAF Benson, Oxfordshire,home of the RAF PR.

    Those photographs would have been made by a Spitfire Mark 1V or the Mark X1. Spitfires were used by the squadron throughout the war as PR aircraft.The squadron also received the Mustang Mark 111 in July 1944 in addition to the Spitfires,it had on strength.
     
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  2. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Nice closeup photo of 3 of the blockships [ Dunkirk ] came in the post today. You can see men on the ship on the right . Original Photo from my collection.
    Keith
    block ships dunkirk.jpg
     
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  3. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Most likely the Spitfire PR XI. The PR IV were leaving the squadron in June 1943.
     
  4. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    That's strange, the Spitfire Mark 1V was on charge with No 541 Squadron from October 1942 to September 1944.

    I would say you are confusing the chronological path of the Spitfire development which produced 24 different Marks and 52 different design variants.

    Now to the point,in October 1942, a decision was made to disband No 1 PRU and form a squadron structure,No 541 Squadron was formed and allocated 14 Spitfire Mark 1Vs and the Spitfire type D which had been an early PR model and was allocated to the squadron at the same time. I cannot find a record of its operations.The early Spitfire PRs were designated "A" , "B " ,"C" , "D" , "E" , "F", and "G ", and the standardised version was put into production as the Spitfire Mark 1V

    The Spitfire Type D was withdrawn from No 541 Squadron in January 1943 after less than 3 months service.The Spitfire Mark 1V is recorded as being a PR aircraft of some merit.It was a Spitfire Mark 1V, EN 343 of No 542 Squadron which photographed the damage to the Ruhr dams after the dams raid on the morning of 17 May 1943.The dams area was a frequent target for PR and the next day another sortie by a Spitfire Mark 1V,EN 411 from the same squadron produced photographs on the extent of the flooding of the Ruhr arising from the dams raid.


    Forming at the same at time as No 541 Squadron was the following also from the disbanding of No 1 PRU:

    No 540 Squadron was allocated about 12 Mosquitos
    No 542 Squadron was allocated an assortment of 19 Spitfires ......Marks not detailed
    No 543 Squadron was allocated an assortment of 15 Spitfires......Marks not detailed
    No 544 Squadron was allocated an assortment of various aircraft left which were Marylands ,Ansons, various Spitfires..Marks not detailed and Wellingtons Mark 1Vs
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2020
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  5. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    3 photos of the barges on the beach Dunkirk, came in the post today. Not that sharp. Last photo on the EE ,bought a long time ago. Original Photos from my collection.
    Keith
    dunkirk barge beach trucks..jpg dunkirk barges on  beach trucks..jpg dunkirk barge beach trucks photo ...jpg dunkirk  t barge EE.jpg
     
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    They've only just arrived at the coast and already they're looking back eastwards towards Russia...It's as if they knew where they would be going next :)

    No thought of crossing the channel...
     
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  7. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    A few more from my collection.
    Keith

    dunkirk street 2.jpg dunkirk bedford on beach.jpg dunkirk  1940 park morris trucks .jpg dunkirk lighthouse 2 .jpg dunkirk lighthouse 1.jpg dunkirk lighthouse.jpg dunkirk light house.jpg
     
  8. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    The Scammell Pioneers ( I think ! ) lined up in a side street look all in good order . Artillery tractors I assume , wonder if they were used on the beach for some reason.
    I would like to know how many Pioneers were lost in France , must be 100s, maybe as many as 700 if you look at the amount of heavy artillery pieces that were lost.
    They appeared very popular with the Germans and crop up in many Beute photos doing all sorts of heavy towing and winching jobs.
    I know one of the French truck maufacturers either manufactured Gardner engines under licence or marketed them so they were probably not short of engine spares either !
    Craig
    s-l1600 (69)Cappelle-la-Grande vor Dünkirchen im Wassergraben.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2020
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  9. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Better photos i have in my collection. Photo taken at Cappelle-La-Grande. One of the Scammell Pioneers has 23 [ 51 Heavy Regiment RA ].
    Keith
    1940 dunkirk 23.jpg dunkirk area trucks photo.jpg dunkirk M391975 23.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2020
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  10. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Original photos from my collection of Scammell Pioneers, last photo post war.
    Keith
    dunkirk scammell (2019_01_15 16_17_59 UTC).jpg scammel french ship cu.jpg scammel french ship.jpg scam 1940 (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg Scammell Pioneer R100.jpg
     
  11. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    That one on the beach must be the most photographed Dunkirk truck :)
    Scammell abandoned in Dunkirk.jpg
     
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  12. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    wonder if it`s still there under the sand. you can just see it in this photo from my collection.
    Keith
    dunkirk morris 13 cp beach (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg
     
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  13. JCB

    JCB Senior Member

    I am surprised the Scammell was not prioritised for recovery as a valuable asset amongst the hundreds of 15cwts and 3 tonners.
    Maybe the load of heavy shells inside
    put them off !I
    Craig
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2020
  14. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Not good when it has been in salt water
     
  15. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    One more from my collection. You can see the bren mags with the 303 ammo still in them. Captured bren gun ,he needs some 303 mags for it.
    Keith
    303 bren bef 1940.jpg bren ammo bef dunkirk.jpg bren gun german.jpg bren gun german. photo.jpg
     
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  16. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Scammell used to pull up British truck from canal 1940. Original photo from my collection. Anyone ID the location.
    Keith.
    1940 truck in canal bef (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg
     
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  17. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    My guess is, that "Moderne maaldery" should stand for "modern mill". Granen - grain, hoender - hens, voeder - fodder. Gerard Florizoone was the owner...
    Is it Belgium then? Say, somewhere in Adinkerke.
     
  18. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

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  19. morrisc8

    morrisc8 Under the Bed

    Is it Belgium. I think it is Belgium . You were quick Rich i was just typing his reply.
     
  20. Nido

    Nido Active Member

    There might have been more than one mill, in more than one city, though...
    But, the owner's name is the right key, agree.
     

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