Spitfire – RAF Thorney Island c.1947

Thanks, G-ORDY, for the positive identification.

RW393 – here’s a shot that we didn’t use in Volume II …

43-2195

I think it might take more than that!!

It was inevitable that egos were going to get caught in the crossfire in all that Burma Bolleaux 🙁

Still a shame though.

43-2195

I think it might take more than that!!

Andy, all these Spitfire identity questions of late, are you trying to lure Mark 12 out of his self imposed Forum exile?

Just had another quick look – the entry for RW393 says she was used by Elliot.

Looks more white than light blue (although obviously that could be the effect of the film).

I was briefly thumbing through Spitfire – The History earlier, and there’s a shot of RW393 with some similar-looking markings on the fuselage. However, I can’t scan or take a pic, otherwise I would post it.

Yes, I think you are correct.

Was SL721 used by him, too?

The Air Marshal (judging by the command flag on the side of the aircraft) in the photo looks more like James Milne-Robb’s successor (Fighter Command crest also painted on the a/c), Air Marshal William Elliott

Yes, those were my initial thoughts. But then I cannot see the JMR codes (and this doesn’t look too much like James Milne-Robb, either) and the various emblems are not as I had seen them before. Plus…the finish seems much lighter, somehow?

I came across this photo, by the way, whilst searching for photographs of damage to the Thorney hangars following the attack on 18 August 1940 – still obvious in this image!

Is it SL721?