On the 30th November 1943, whilst based at Palata in Italy, N°1 squadron received two Spitfire Mk.VIII's for meteorological work. N°7 Wing (SAAF) had allocated six Mk.VIII's to the squadrons, with N°1, N°2 & N°4 squadrons each receiving two aircraft. These were to be used for weather recce sorties only and the squadron was to detail three pilots for this work. Two of these pilots were to be available at all times, should weather-recce sorties be required, whilst the third pilot could be used on other squadron operations. These weather recce sorties were called "JIM CROW", which was the callsign used by the pilots on these sorties. The N°1 squadron pilots Selected for these flights were Lt. Stuart "Bomb" Finney, Lt. Harry Hall and Lt. Ernie Harris. As the senior pilot, Finney was promptly dubbed James Crow, Hall was known as Jimmy Crow, while Harris was called Joe Crow. On the 9th December, with Lt. Finney's promotion to Capt. and appointment as a Flight Commander, Lt. Doug Davies was attached to the JIM CROW meteorological flight as its third member. These Mk.VIII aircraft were only on strength for around two weeks, as on the morning of the 16th December, Lt. Davies and Lt. Harris flew flew the weather recce aircraft off strength, and handed them over to N° 244 Wing near Termoli. The aircraft were painted in the Day Fighter (High Altitude) scheme, of Medium Sea Grey overall and PRU Blue underneath.
Powered by a Merlin 63 engine, JF421 was assembled at Eastleigh, and had its first flight on the 9th April 1943. It was later, whilst flying with N° 185 squadron (RAF), lost on operations. The aircraft was shot down by flak whilst attacking a train near Ravenna on the 12th September 1944. The pilot Sgt. A.E. Jeans was killed.
Powered by a Merlin 63 engine, JF421 was assembled at Eastleigh, and had its first flight on the 9th April 1943. It was later, whilst flying with N° 185 squadron (RAF), lost on operations. The aircraft was shot down by flak whilst attacking a train near Ravenna on the 12th September 1944. The pilot Sgt. A.E. Jeans was killed.
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Brent Best
