Help identify this Spitfire.

Not sure if it helps but my records (sorry an’t recall the source) state that during XP413 allocation to 242 OCU at Thorney Island between 05.05.66 & 02.01.69 it was at the disposal of A&AEE

Blimey! I didn’t get it right did I?

I never get anything right. Just ask my missus! :dev2:

Steve

The boo says:-

RW388 was retained at Colerne until the early 1960’s, being photographed there, still
marked as RW388 / “3L-R”, on 4 September 1961 when it was seen to be sharing hangar space
with other historic aircraft including a Heinkel He162. Shortly afterwards it was transferred to
the station gate of RAF Benson but this was a short posting and it was soon exchanged with the
more appropriate P.R.XIX PM651 (q.v.) which had been displayed at RAF Andover since September
1957. PM651 arrived at Benson on 29 August 1962 with RW388 making the return journey
at the same time.

This fits well for an RW388 respray at Benson in 1962. I have a couple of 1961 shots with the 3L-R code at Colerne with droopy rad door and shots at Andover without codes but again a droopy rad door.

Many thanks.

Mark

There was no Spitfire at Cottesmore from 63 to mid 69.

John

Don’t seem to be able to go back into my post on ‘edit’ to add info.

105 Sqdn moved to RAF Khormaskar, Aden June 1962, so just before XP413 was delivered to the unit July 1962.

Agree XP413 is the biggest clue, hangar doors looking fairly similar!

July 1962 – March 1964 based Khormaskar, Aden with 105 Sqdn
June 1964 – May 1965 with HSA, likely at Bitteswell
May 1966 – December 1968 based Thorney Island with 242 OCU
January 1969 – mid ’70s based Cottesmore with 115 Sqdn
SOC May 1976 at Fairford. Scrap date ?

Pity there is no unit badge on the fin!

Agreed Viscount, history is certainly not clear cut. We do seem to be getting a few likely possibilities out there. It would seem though, that the likelihood of having XP413 in the background is probably the best clue we have. Thanks for posting the additional information.

Best regards;
Steve

Certainly an AW.660 Argosy rear in the hangar and no reason to suppose that is any other aircraft then XP413, given the ‘413’ clue.

However the history is not so short and clear-cut as suggested by “RAF Rochford”.Don’t have my paper records to hand, however www.argosyair.co.uk/2nd20.html gives:

First flight 8.7.62
Delivered 22.07.62 to 105 Sqdn (from memory based Aden)
Ditched in Aden Harbour while crew training 24.03.64.
Prompt local action recovered, dismantled and returned the aircraft to HSA in the UK 6/64, by surface transport.
Rebuilt by HSA in UK
Delivered to 242 OCU 02.05.66 (from memory based at Thorney Island while with Argosy aircraft)
To 27MU 02.01.69 (so would have been at Shawbury)
To 115 Sqdn 16.06.69, for conversion to an E. Mk 1 aircraft. 115 Sqdn based at RAF Cottesmore 68-76.
SOC 01.05.76 at RAF Fairford and scrapped.

Nothing to stop the aircraft being at RAF Benson, a series of alternatives are offered by where the aircraft was based, which include Aden, Thorney Island, Cottesmore and possibly Bitteswell or Shawbury on refurbishment.

One thing certain though is the photo has certainly to be 1962 onwards, with 1976 as a very final date.

I saw that too, but found this http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-rw388.html that says RW388 was a gate guard at Benson sometime in the early 60s. If that is XP413 in the background, the the time frame would fit as RW388 moved to Andover in 1963 (well, if that info is correct of course)

I love threads like this! 😮

Best regards;
Steve

This thread would have the gate guard at Benson as a PRXIX PM651, albeit later than the period suggested for this shot.
115sq with Argosies seems to have been at Tangmere, Cottesmore (from 1968) and Brize Norton (from 1976) and was not at Benson with Argosies (Andovers only from 1982), does this raise any other possibilities?

EDIT: Argosy XP413 seems to have been recovered after ditching in 1964 with 105 sq, rebuilt by HSA and re-delivered to the RAF in 1966, it then went through two MUs before joining 115 in 1969, when it was at Cottesmore.
(see http://www.argosyair.co.uk/2nd20.html#Top)

So was there a Spitfire XVI at Cottesmore at any point during the late 1960s/early 1970s?

EDIT AGAIN: RAFRochford’s option below seems more likely!

I’d say Benson too: looks like the old 60 Sqn hangar and I’d assume that’s the gate guard having some TLC before going back on the pole.

If that’s XP413 in the hangar, then it ditched in March 1964. Don’t know if that helps with the time frame.

RAF Benson does seem like a good guess.

Edit: It’s not RW388 is it?

Steve

Hello Mark

The aircraft in the hangar is an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, the usual base for these was at RAF Benson.

Hope this helps in some small way.

Alan