I’m involved in the restoration of Spitfire NH749. I’ve got a question regarding the following statement posted on another bulletin board.
“Crowbars (only fitted to Spitfires from the Mk V onwards) were not painted red until after the war. During the war they were either silver (steel) or Interior Green, perhaps sometimes black). Its purpose was to help the pilot extract himself from the cockpit after an accident. After the war international agreements on safety decreed that safety equipment be painted red and the crowbar was considered to be an item of safety equipment. The rules are probably still in place which is why warbirds and museum examples have red crowbars.
The stencilling on the door comes in several variations and can also differ from factory to factory. It was invariably red. Often written upright and upside down so that it could be read from inside (looking down) and outside the cockpit.”
Where can I get definitive information on how our cockpit door should be finished given that it was assembled at Aldermaston and delivered in early 1945? Thanks!!
By: Mark V - 8th September 2010 at 20:23
I was only talking about the door! 🙂
By: bentwingbomber - 8th September 2010 at 19:58
Just give me a week or two and I will show you one!
A week or two?
How long is this refurb going to take?:)
By: Mark V - 8th September 2010 at 18:29
None of the shots of restored aircraft seems to follow the authentic application of the note “MAKE SURE DOOR IS LOCKED BEFORE FLIGHT”.
Just give me a week or two and I will show you one!
By: VoyTech - 8th September 2010 at 14:43
None of the shots of restored aircraft seems to follow the authentic application of the note “MAKE SURE DOOR IS LOCKED BEFORE FLIGHT”. After some initial varations it seems that Supermarine and Westland settled on the layout as in the black & white shots below and CBAF on a different stencil, as in the colour shot (both are wartime). I think the Supermarine one was applied either in red or in black. All CBAF ones I have seen were red.
By: Mark12 - 8th September 2010 at 14:24
All are shots of TE330.
By: Mark V - 8th September 2010 at 13:07
Note the similarity of detail and decal in the shot in post 20. 😉
Mark
The decal is a new one to me – all I have ever seen on the inside of the door (in period) are the variations on the ‘MAKE SURE DOOR IS LOCKED BEFORE FLIGHT’ instruction, normally stencilled in Red.
By: 12jaguar - 8th September 2010 at 09:52
safety thread…possibly an earlier interpretation of safety wire = ie thin copper wire which when broken shows that a safety mechanism has been operated. eg Clear Aircraft Switches, emergency door handles etc.
John
By: Mark12 - 8th September 2010 at 09:33
Note the similarity of detail and decal in the shot in post 20. 😉
Mark
By: hairy - 8th September 2010 at 09:24
Just came across this thread a bit late, here is a couple of shots of the crowbar in the time capsule TE330 when owned by Don Subritzsky…………………
By: AnthonyG - 8th September 2010 at 04:37
Hi guys, sorry I know this is an old thread but I am rebuilding my ex RHKAAF Auster T7 and am putting her back to original military config.
Quick question, are all RAF crowbars the same during this late 40’s to early 50’s era? And does anyone know where thay can be obtained from that would be appropiate for my plane?
Cheers
Anthony
By: Mark V - 21st May 2009 at 23:13
Mark V will be along to give you further advice on this I am sure
Here I am! Last Spitfire crowbar I painted was silver (although subsequently somebody else changed is back to red!).
By: Roobarb - 21st May 2009 at 21:57
I’m surprised at you Mark 12! Those heels are quite out of keeping in the context of authenticity. They are clearly “Black” and you really should know that the colour used with Spitfires is “Night”… Mark V will be along to give you further advice on this I am sure, and Moggy will be having a cold shower…:D
Oh and who cares about the crowbar!
By: Mark12 - 20th May 2009 at 22:21
What! …and reveal the ‘Wingco’ in all his glory?
More than my job’s worth. 🙂
Mark
By: RAF Pilot - 20th May 2009 at 20:52
Nice Picture
Hey Mark12,
Share the full great picture that you posted LOL
🙂
By: keithnewsome - 20th May 2009 at 19:30
OOOppppssss …. my safety thread has just broken !!!! Keith.
By: Richard Smith - 20th May 2009 at 18:42
Impressive bodywork….the Spit isn’t too bad either! 😉
By: Mark12 - 20th May 2009 at 16:40
Silver.
By: mike currill - 20th May 2009 at 07:59
I imagine it would be an early take on our idea of things like the plastic tamper evidence ties on fire extinguishers. If you think about the number of things that came out of WWII a lot of ideas which we consider modern actually have their origins in wartime practices
By: Stonewall34 - 20th May 2009 at 03:09
I was looking at the third photo in post #2 .
What is a “safety thread ” ????
Thank you
Glenn
By: ZRX61 - 19th May 2009 at 02:00
I know, but the Sears version isn’t exactly heavy…. I think the PR11 at Wright Patt has the Sears version, I’ll have to check the resto album as I know there are pics in there of the crowbar.. 😉
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May 17, 2009 at 10:10 pm