weather reconnaissance aircraft in allied services

[michaelvader]

Hallo friends,
did the allies on the european front use weather reconnaissance units as the german did with the Wetterkundungsstaffeln?
If so, which aircraft did they use? and did these aircraft use special markings or paints? and where was them based?
Yours
Papi

 

[Motormouse]

Hi, pretty much Spitfires/Mosquitoes were used by both RAF and USAAF. Types varied depending on what was available though.

I'll do a bit of digging around... Heres a starter
http://www.ulsteraviationsociety.org/met-flights/4537747370
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._1409_Flight_RAF

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._521_Squadron_RAF

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VII/AAF-VII-11.html

Later

Pete

 

[michaelvader]

Thank you Pete,

so I see that the allies used "normal reco ac" for these missions with out special paint.

Yours
Papi

 

[Hurricane91]

Hello Papi,
This is a very interesting thread. The links that Pete posted are fascinating.

Here are two photos from my father's USAAF album. He was assigned to the
652nd Bomb Squadron (H) of the Eighth Air Force. They were probably taken
on one of the bases in the Alconbury England area ca 1944-45.

My father (on the left) told me this was a weather plane which is consistent with the
nose art. The aircraft appears to be an early B-17G with the chin turret removed.



This appears to be a different aircraft although the nose art is similar.


Regards,
John

 

[michaelvader]

Good evening John,

thank you for your reply.
Now it would be interesting to find a paint or picture representing this nose art and a profile or exact indications those involved ac had.
I think even if not correct for an repaint the B-17F from WOP would be good.
A doesn't know other ac that would for FS2004 represent a B-17G without its chin turret
Yours
Papi

 

[Motormouse]

Thank you Pete,

so I see that the allies used "normal reco ac" for these missions with out special paint.

Yours
Papi

Hello Papi, yes thats correct, or sometime a bomber flying ahead of the main force, or pathfinder with meteorological trained crew did the job.

Ttfn

Pete

 

[Motormouse]

Hello Papi,
This is a very interesting thread. The links that Pete posted are fascinating.

Here are two photos from my father's USAAF album. He was assigned to the
652nd Bomb Squadron (H) of the Eighth Air Force. They were probably taken
on one of the bases in the Alconbury England area ca 1944-45.

My father (on the left) told me this was a weather plane which is consistent with the
nose art. The aircraft appears to be an early B-17G with the chin turret removed.

View attachment 42512

This appears to be a different aircraft although the nose art is similar.
View attachment 42511

Regards,
John

Take a look here

http://rafwatton.info/a-brief-history-of-the-25th/

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/unit/1323

The whole unit was a reconnaissance bomber squadron/group.

Youll get a bit more from Google as well.

Ttfn

Pete

 

[Motormouse]

Good evening John,

thank you for your reply.
Now it would be interesting to find a paint or picture representing this nose art and a profile or exact indications those involved ac had.
I think even if not correct for an repaint the B-17F from WOP would be good.
A doesn't know other ac that would for FS2004 represent a B-17G without its chin turret
Yours
Papi

Papi.. Look here https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:652d_Bombardment_Squadron_-_Emblem.png

Ttfn

Pete

 

[Hurricane91]

Take a look here
Youll get a bit more from Google as well.
Ttfn
Pete

Many thanks Pete. I read the links you posted and Googled the 652nd. Many questions answered. Good stuff with many pictures of the squadron insignia.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2895

 

[michaelvader]

Hello friends

at first thank you for your answers.
I searched all over the net and did in fact find no profile representing exactly the concerned unit.
In fact I found some confusing text that one time attributed the 352 bomb group to the eight af
and another time to the 15th af.
One one of the photos you published Pete I can clearly see the crashed ac coded H and the serial.
But I can not recognize if the plane is in olive drap or other paint nore the individual plane code.
On some internet sources I seems the the 352nd bg had "Y" on the tail and a green rudder.
It is courious the no profile was to be found of exactly the 352nd bg and their weather ac.
Sadly here in munich it seems impossible to find some docs.
Perhaps some other friends can give us more docs or info?

Yours
Papi