Firefly named "Blondie": British or Canadian?

[Jack Geratic]

I've seen a picture of this tank on another forum (as well as here), stating it to be of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers during June 7th 1944:



There are also some saying this tank was actually from the British unit 4th CLY, and being one of Wittmann's victims at Villers-Bocage. The explanation is based on a photo taken from the still of a German film. The backgrounds are similar in both photos, and the writing on the fender is similar to a Cromwell from 4th CLY, :


What is making me question this conclusion is the second photo has the Firefly with A squadron tactical mark, while Blondie should have been with B squadron due to the first letter of the nickname.

Any thoughts on this?

regards,
Jack

[maple_leaf_eh]

The second image didn't come up. Can you repost?

[Roddy de Normann]

Hi there -

The pic above has always been confusing...the T# appears to be T.212752. This falls within the block (Contract S/M 1014) for Stuart Vs (T.212747-T.215746)...however, the block before (Contract S/M 1046) - T.211747-T.212746 - is for Sherman Vs. Thus the real question is 'What is the census # of BLONDIE ?'...

All of the above said, I am pretty sure the veh is from A Sqn, 4 CLY and was KO'ed at Villers Bocage on 14 Jun 44...

Roddy

[Jack Geratic]

Not sure why the link did not work, but here it is again, plus another. A further explanation given to me was that CLY did not limit their use of nicknames to squadron letters.





This 'work in progress' file lists Blondie as T212732 : http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/tables/Vehicle_Names_V2.pdf
regards,
Jack

[Roddy de Normann]

T.212732 would make it a Sherman Vc thus most likely A Sqn, 4 CLY...

Thanks - will amend my own files...

Roddy

[strat1]

A Sqn, 4 CLY at Villers Bocage knocked out on 13 Jun 44 during the rampage of Michael Wittman . Later taken to Kummerdorf training area for tests if I remember from another forum.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jack Geratic

Not sure why the link did not work, but here it is again, plus another.

Jack,

It doesn't work because you linked it from another forum. It's best to attach pictures to your postings here.

HTH,
Hanno