92 sqd photo?

Unless the lens used was a very wide angle (not that common in 1940 as far as I am aware), the background has too shallow a slope and is too far away to be Duxford. I’ve never been on the aerodrome at Hen Puddle (Fowlmere) to say anything about it, unfortunately.

Adrian

Probably one of the series of official photos taken in late September 40 (21st?) when 616 flew down to Fowlmere to join 19 Sqdn. Others in the series include a mixed group of 19 & 616 Sqdn pilots standing by / sitting on a Spitfire wing and the much used photo of 19 Sqdn’s Sgt Jennings taking off in QV-I X4474.

wouldn’t it be great to recreate this picture with the 3 mk 1s?

Anyone shed some light on this one?
Looks like Fowlmere or Duxford doesn’t it?

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Looking at the Photo, I am inclined to think they are 616 Squadron Spitfires. The first aircraft shows the individual “W” behind the roundel, while it is the “QJ” squadron codes ( which do not appear to be to standard dimentions) on the second and third aircraft.

if this is the case, there is a possible explanation for the off size codes. Many years ago I was told by a former 616 squadron member that on some of the 1939-1940 aircraft, the codes were painted by a groundcrew member who worked as a liveries painter for the rail company at Doncaster prior to being called up.

it was said that he had not been given the official code sizes, so he painted them as he thought right.

hope this helps

Rad

Sorry Antoni you’re incorrect. It’s pre-Battle of Britain when the port wing was also black, starboard white. From December 1940 – April 1941 they would also have had a sky band around the rear fuselage and a sky spinner.

The 616 Spitfires are post BoB, specifically between December 1940 until April 1941, the dates between Day Fighters were ordered to paint the underneath port wing Night (black). Until June 1940 undersides were painted port half white and starboard side Night, devided by the centre line of the aircraft.

I’d say it was 616 Squadron at Fowlmere in late summer 1940, the Leconfield photos are pre-Battle of Britain, note the black undersides to the port wing.

I have seen the photograph in publications captioned as 92 Squadron, which seems to be a mistake. It has a resemblance to photographs said to be 616 Squadron at Leconfield.

I think this comes from it being classified wrong at IWM

I have seen the photograph in publications captioned as 92 Squadron, which seems to be a mistake. It has a resemblance to photographs said to be 616 Squadron at Leconfield.

This photograph is said to be 92 Squadron. At first it looks similar to the 616 Squadron photographs but a closer look reveals that these Spitfires differ in have the squadron codes forward of the roundel.

I`ve always thought that this was a section of 616 Squadron, who at the same time in 1940 shared the same code letters. 616 seemed to have had thinner code letters as well.

I think you’re right. This is most def Duxford anyway.

I`ve always thought that this was a section of 616 Squadron, who at the same time in 1940 shared the same code letters. 616 seemed to have had thinner code letters as well.