Longchamp's Tiffie

On Jan. 20,1943, Baron Jean De Selys Longchamps, 609 Sqn, RAF, staged a 1 man strike on the Belgian Gestapo HQ in Brussels. What Typhoon was he flying that day? Info implies Typhoon Ib (cardoor) DN406, PR F, but I’ve not found official records. What was the load out for the “official” mission (rail road strike)? RP-3s or bombs? Or just 20mms? Articles I’ve read only say " armed “to the limit” "… Only 20mms were used on Gestapo HQ.

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Don’t know much about it but I suggest if you can join britmodler and ask there. As the name implies there are a lot of British aircraft modelers there. I bet they have an answer for you.

I’ve nothing much to add I’m afraid save that I’m pretty sure that this incident was the inspiration for a similar attack in the Brit/Belgian TV drama series “Secret Army” (about an escape line in Belgium for shot down Allied pilots). The episode is called “Day of Wrath” and features an unauthorised attack by a Mosquito.

According to two different articles I’ve found dealing with this mission, de Selys flew a Typhoon Mk IB “PR-M” (M for Monkey) s/n DN305, and his wingman’s (Blanco) was “PR-Z”

Here’s a build log of a 1/72nd kit based on De Selys’ biography (written by Marc Audrit)

https://master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=128996

1962 collectible card (published by the Liebig’s Extract of Meat Company :wink: )

EDIT :

Another mention here : https://www.manstonhistory.org.uk/timeline/

H.P.

Jean de Selys at the controls of the PR-M. On the left door, one can see the monogram of Leopold III that the very royalist de Selys insisted on placing on his plane.

H.P.

On 21 and 22 October, 1942, Squadron 609’s dispersal turned into a film set when a team from the RAF’s Film Production Unit arrived at Biggin Hill to shoot a report on the life of a fighter squadron called Between Friends: a Brief Visit to a Fighter Station, featuring de Selys (the one with “JSL” written on his Mae West.

De Selys posing on his Typhoon.

The 20mm cannons appear to be the early type with uncovered barrels…

H.P.

In the words of the immortal Artie Johnson …..

…….. Is the photo of Longchamp on the Tiffie a reverse negative or did the Napier run clock wise? (blade pitch looks arse- backwards.) Also, still wondering what underwing ordinance was carried for he official part of the Gestapo strike.

I guess no. The hinged transparent “roof” is (correctly) open to the left.

H.P.

Talking about ordnance, I’ve read the biography pages dealing with the January 20 mission and there’s no mention of rockets or bombs…Only the 20mm cannons. The author insists on the fact that de Selys didn’t want to spent too much 20mm ammo for the “official” part of the mission and have enough left for the Brussels detour. He still managed to damage a locomotive on his way though…

H.P.