RAF Benson Photo-Reconnaissance Wing

[mfg495]

Here are four images from my collection, the first three are in fact one imagery that I have spit-up so you can see the detail.
I think it was taken around late 1944-45, I'm still doing research on this. It was taken at RAF Benson, the home of RAF Photographic Reconnaissance.

In the imagery you can see Mosquito PR34's, Spitfire PRXIX and PR XI. In the distance there are also more Spitfires and RAF Mustangs MKIII. See last image

[No.1]

From all I can see here your web site is going to be better then ever and I hope No.1 source of recce airplanes. This airfield look very large

[santynus]

  wonderful photos Mick  I'm iterested in the Mosquitov PR34 do you have other photo about this subject? is possible recive that image in big size? 

[mfg495]

Thank you both. 

santynus, I will have a good look and get back to you, hopefully not to long.

[mfg495]

A bit of information on the image showing Mosquito RG202 (third image down), it is a PR34 it was built between 6 Jan 45 and 10 Jan 46, so it may have only just seen service during the war.
It served with the following units - 544, 540, 58 Squadrons and 237 & 231 OCU. It was up-graded to a PR34a (updated cockpit layout) and left service on the 27 May 1957.

Information from http://www.dehavilland.ukf.net/index.htm - great site for research of De Havilland aircraft

[mfg495]

Another shot from Benson, this one early 1950, it shows Mosquito VT589, in served with 58 and 540 Squadrons. It was a TIII training aircraft that had dual controls. The aircraft was built between 1947 and 1948.
It crashed on the 24 Apr 1951 in swung on landing and u/c collapsed.

[mfg495]

Here are a couple more shots of the Mosquito's from Benson.
The top one is a group of recce dated 1945 and the other is dated 1952, only a few years before I was born.

[No.1]

Is this last operational Mosquito's?

[mfg495]

wonderful photos Mick  I'm iterested in the Mosquitov PR34 do you have other photo about this subject? is possible recive that image in big size? 

Santynus, sorry my friend, I forget your request, here are some more images of PR34's

Also were you after a lager version of the first PR34 image I posted?

[samuraj77]

This is a great colection 
Few days ago I bought Spit mk IX 1/48 Italeri kit with markings for
PR mkIX - RAF 16sqn France Sept 1944
It will be my first RAF recce aircraft

[mfg495]

I've started a PR.XI, I must get around to completing it 

Are you going to have a Pink Spit or a Blue one 

[samuraj77]

I have decals for pink...
This one
Kit is most interesting it is simple (not too much parts) so it could be done rather fast... And it is cheap  so I might buy few more 

[mfg495]

The  PR Mk IX  first started to appear in November 1942, this version was a slight improvement on the previous mark. But they were only a stop-gap for PR Mk XI. In total only 15 PR IXs converted from the fighter Mk IX versions at RAF Benson. They had their guns removed and cameras installed in the wings and for long-range missions, they had to have a 'slipper' tank added under the fuselage, as they were not fitted with internal wing fuel tanks.

Good luck with the model 

[samuraj77]

thx for the info they are very valuable, well I'll post in modeling section when I start building... and I might need some more info but about that when I start my model