I’ve got a technical query about how the lighting was set up in Spitfires at the end of the war and in the post war era.
As many of you are aware, in around 1944 the Air Ministry changed their method of night illumination of gauges from radium to flourescent green. I believe that to make the green paint flouresce, they used UV lights. Does anyone know whether they also had red or white lighting that was used to illuminate the instrument panel? And does anyone know which lights were UV and which were the “normal” lights?
Another little Spitfire issue – which control grip did the Mk.XI Spitfires use? The one used on the cannon armed Spitfires, or the one with the single round brass button?
By: DazDaMan - 12th February 2006 at 15:02
Daz – in some off board discussions on Friday, Bruce told me that the spade grip was a special one on the Mk.XI, and they did not have any gun button at all (thanks Bruce!)
Ah, fair enough. I wasn’t sure either way! :p
By: Eddie - 12th February 2006 at 15:00
Daz – in some off board discussions on Friday, Bruce told me that the spade grip was a special one on the Mk.XI, and they did not have any gun button at all (thanks Bruce!)
Al – thanks for the reply. So we’re pretty well confirmed – no UV lights in a Spitfire as a standard fitting!
By: DazDaMan - 12th February 2006 at 14:57
As for the spadegrip – Jeremy Flack’s book “Spitfire – The World’s Most Famous Fighter” contains a good shot of PL983’s cockpit during restoration, with the single-button spadegrip fitted….
However, in Hugh Smallwood’s “Spitfire in Blue”, there is a period shot of a PRXI with the cockpit door open and the spadegrip just visible (leaning 45 degrees to the right) – it looks more like the cannon-type one.
By: 682al - 11th February 2006 at 18:43
Ed,
Like Mark 12, I cannot recall seeing a Spitfire cockpit equipped with ultra-violet lighting, but I would not rule it out as a mod on postwar aircraft. You would really need to consult the Spit XVI A.P. mod. volume at Hendon (assuming they have one).
What I can say is that the Spiteful XIV had a full dual lighting system installed from the word go. That is, fluorescent instruments, lit by ultra-violet lamps, and cockpit lighting by Type C floodlamps (the little ones that sit under the coaming).
regards!
By: HP57 - 11th February 2006 at 18:14
OK – thanks for the answers guys.
I suspect that the UV lights were maybe only used in the larger aircraft.
They were, at least in the big trio of Bomber Command. I have some for my Halifax replica cockpit.
Cees
By: Eddie - 11th February 2006 at 16:27
OK – thanks for the answers guys.
I suspect that the UV lights were maybe only used in the larger aircraft.
By: Mark12 - 11th February 2006 at 10:05
Eddie,
I don’t think any of the Spitfires were originally fitted with UV lighting.
If you look at all the Spitfire Pilot’s Notes up to and including Mark 24, they have the same standard AM bulb holder fitted with a Supermarine swivel mounting bracket and capped with a special Supermarine shield/filter. There are two, one each side of the cockpit and they have individual dimmer/regulator switch facility.
Interestingly the Pilot’s Notes for post war Griffon Seafires, XVII, 45, 46 & 47 are far less clear and seem to have a variation on the cockpit light positions, style and word reference. They could well be UV.
Mark
By: Whitley_Project - 10th February 2006 at 23:19
Hi Eddie
I don’t know i’m afraid, but it’s an interesting question. Deserves a second chance at an answer 😉
As far as the UV lights themselves go, they have ‘UV’ stamped on them and they look quite different to the standard cockpit lamps.
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February 10, 2006 at 3:04 pm