No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF, nicknamed "the Rafwaffe", was a Royal Air Force flight formed during the Second World War to evaluate captured enemy aircraft and demonstrate their characteristics to other Allied units. Several aircraft on charge with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough were also used by this unit. The RAE facilities at Farnborough were used for the flight testing of German and Italian aircraft during the war.
Many crash-landed airframes were brought to Farnborough for examination, testing and cannibalisation of spare parts to keep other aircraft in serviceable condition. The main flight testing work was carried out by the Aerodynamics Flight of the Experimental Flying Department and the Wireless & Electrical Flight (W&EF), the latter responsible for evaluation and examination of radar-equipped aircraft later in the war.
History
No. 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight
Heinkel He 111H, AW177 at RAF Duxford, prior to the establishment of 1426 Flight (Sept-Oct 1941)
The unit was established on 21 November 1941 at RAF Duxford, made up of a small group of pilots who had previously been maintenance test pilots with No. 41 Group RAF.[2][3] Attached at first to 12 Group, its mission was to demonstrate captured types to Allied personnel and expose them to "the appearance, performance, and even the sound" of hostile types. Initially, it operated a Heinkel He 111 H (RAF serialAW177) shot down in Scotland in February 1940, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 captured during the Battle of France (AE479) (turned over from the Air Fighting Development Unit, AFDU) and a Junkers Ju 88A-5 (HM509).[2] The Ju 88 was a more recent British acquisition after the pilot landed at night at RAF Chivenor in the belief it was an airfield in France-–the crew had made a navigational error after being deceived by a Meacon.[4] A General Aircraft Monospar was also assigned to the unit for general communication tasks and collecting spare parts.
Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5 AX772
The aircraft in the unit changed as later marques came into the RAF's hands in various ways, including capture by Allied troops, forced or mistaken landings by German pilots and defections. The flight co-operated with the RAF Film Unit, for which the usual British markings were removed and original German restored.[2] Aircraft were then passed to the AFDU at (RAF Duxford 1940-1943) where they were extensively tested before passing them on to the flight. Several aircraft were lost to crashes or damaged and then cannibalised for spare parts. Others were shipped to America for further evaluation. In March 1943, the unit moved to RAF Collyweston. Beginning in early 1944, the flight made a round of U.S. Army Air Forces bases in Britain. After the invasion of Normandy, the perceived need for the flight declined.[2]
Following disbandment of No. 7 Squadron RAF in December 1955, four crews and their aircraft were detached and sent to the Aden during the "troubles", to carry out patrols as No. 1426 (Photographic Reconnaissance) Flight at RAF Khormaksar, Aden on 1 January 1956 and disbanded at Khormaksar on 31 December 1956, being the last time the Avro Lincoln flew operationally as a bomber.[1]
Aircraft operated, 1941–1945
Axis aircraft
This list may be incomplete and not all Axis aircraft captured and allocated RAF serial numbers were flown by 1426 flight. Others were flown by the Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) and the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE).
Damaged by a Spitfire of 66 Squadron, flown by Canadian ace George Christie; belly–landed at RAF Manston, pilot Wolfgang Teumer (of JG 51) taken prisoner, 27 November 1940.[8]
Repaired using parts of other aircraft and tested by Rolls-Royce. In February 1942 passed to Research and Development at Hatfield for propeller tests then to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down before in March 1942 to No. 1426 Flight. In 1943, retired from RAF use as more recent Bf 109 models had been acquired and selected for long term preservation as a museum aircraft. It was eventually moved to the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon in 1978, where it is currently on display in the Battle of Britain Hall.[8]
F–2
12764
<< +
ES906
Originally of I./JG 26, flown by Gruppenkommandeur Hpt. Rolf Pingel, it was damaged by return fire while attacking Short Stirling bombers and belly–landed near Dover, 10 July 1941.
Repaired by the RAE and evaluated by the AFDU in October 1941. Crashed near Fowlmere 20 October 1941 during test flight, killing Polish Air Force pilot F/O Marian J. Skalski.
Originally flown by Uffz. Oswald Fischer of 10.(Jabo)/JG 26, was damaged by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on a Royal Navy corvette and belly–landed at Beachy Head, 20 May 1942[9]
Formerly of 8./JG 27; found abandoned and in damaged condition by No. 3 Squadron RAAF, at an airfield near Tobruk, Libya in November 1942.
Repaired by 3 Squadron using parts from other aircraft. Repainted in a Desert Air Force scheme, given the squadron code "CV-V" and evaluated in North Africa. Transferred to 1426 Flight in late 1943.[10] Preserved in the RAF Museum[10]
Lt. Horst Prenzel, Staffelkapitan 1./JG 301, landed at RAF Manston by mistake after a Wilde Sau sortie over the invasion area against night-bombers on 21 July 1944. Another Bf 109 also attempted to land but crashed[11]
Written–off in a take-off accident at RAF Wittering, 23 November 1944[11]
G-6(trop.)
??
VX101
Captured in the Middle East in 1943
Written–off in a forced landing at Thorney Island 19 May 1944[11]
Oblt. Armin Faber, Gruppe Adjutant of III./JG 2 'Richthofen' became disorientated after shooting down an RAF Spitfire over Start Point, Devon. Attempting to return home, he accidentally flew north instead of south and landed at RAF Pembrey on 23 June 1942[13]
Originally of I./SKG 10, flown by Uffz. Werner Ohne; landed in error at RAF Manston, 20 June 1943
Despatched to store at 47 MU Sealand in July 1946.
A-4/U8
7155
PE882
Originally H+ of II./SKG 10, flown by Uffz. Otto Bechtolder. Disorientated en-route and running short of fuel, he force-landed at RAF West Malling on 16 April 1943
Crashed 13 October 1944, killing F/L E.R. Lewendon.
A-4/U8
5843
Red 9
PM679
Originally of 2./SKG 10, flown by Uffz. Heinz Ehrhardt, accidentally landed at RAF Manston, Kent on 20 May 1943[14]
Last flight was June 1944 when, shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a major engine failure and force landed. Was used for spares for PE882 and PN999.
Originally of 4.(F)/14 intercepted by RAF fighters while on a reconnaissance mission on 21 July 1940. Forced down near Goodwood Racecourse, Sussex.[19]
Royal Aircraft Establishment repaired this aircraft. After handling trials was flown to the Air Fighting Development Unit at Duxford in Oct 1941. Transferred to No. 1426 Flight in Mar 1942[3] until moving to the Enemy Aircraft Flight of the Central Flying School at Tangmere in January 1945. Stored at No. 47 Maintenance Unit (MU) Sealand in November 1945. Scrapped in 1947.
Originally of II./KG 26. Landed in a field near North Berwick on 9 February 1940 after being damaged by a Spitfire.[21]
Crashed at RAF Polebrook on 10 November 1943 while carrying a number of 1426 Flight ground crew as passengers. The pilot, F/O Barr, and six others were killed, four were injured.[3]
This aircraft was formerly of 2(F)/122, which landed intact and was captured at Monte Corvino, Italy;[24] crew had become lost during a photo–reconnaissance mission in the Naples area.[23]
Former 1426 Flight aircraft, Bf 109 G2 RN228 at the RAF Museum, 2007
Four of the aircraft operated by the flight still survive, Bf 109 E-3 DG200, Bf 109 G2 RN228 (known as 'Black 6'), Fiat CR42 BT474 and Ju 88R-1 PJ876. All are currently displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
Eric "Winkle" Brown, from the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, the Commander of No. 1426 Flight, who flew most of the aircraft captured, and who holds the world record for having flown the greatest number of distinct aircraft types.
