Hi,
I’m a model maker and aviation enthusiast who is interested in modelling the above Spitfire of which I only know of only one photograph. It is a side view in Aeroplane Magazine December 2007, showing the aircraft marked with a white ‘4’ with registration N74138 on the fin, On the side of the fuselage is the text ‘Embassy of the United States of America, Civil Air Attache London.’ The aircraft is pictured in 1948 with the former ATA pilot Lettice Curtic in the cockpit.
Can anyone please help me with information about the colour of the aircraft and text, whether there were any markings on the upper and lower surfaces of the wings; does anyone know of any other photos and history of this aircraft.
By: Ted Burnett - 2nd February 2009 at 11:54
Spitfire PRXI PL983 / N74138
Very many thanks to those who have responded to my request for details of the colour of this aircraft in 1948. The RAF serial of this aircraft was PL983 not PL963 as quoted in Aeroplane mag.
I’ve since found another reference to the aircraft in Air Britain’s superb book “Spitfire International” on page 451. It has a b & w side view, and a short history.
By: merlin70 - 31st January 2009 at 08:47
A Photo that I took at Old Warden July 1972. I have another picture a few years later which appears to be a lighter blue.
Which year was she painted Tractor blue?
By: OHOPE - 31st January 2009 at 05:52
I did not know the name , but Fordson Tractor Blue certainly fits my recollection .
By: WJ244 - 30th January 2009 at 23:01
Anyone looking to match the paint should be wary of pictures taken during her time on static display at Old Warden. An ex Warden Aviation employee said in a recent article that at one time in the 60’s he was instructed to repaint her with paint from tins marked Fordson Tractor Blue !
By: Mark12 - 29th January 2009 at 20:53
Most Vickers Spitfire activity post WWII was centred on South Marston Works, sales and conversions to Foreign Air Forces etc.
The SM dispatch book shows PL983 was bought in for paint and completed on 7th Jan 1948.
The enclosed crop started as a slide from which a print was made. Dull, it has been corrected for colour caste and colour balance to make the skin look as natural as possible. At that point it can reasonably be seen that the colour of the aircraft is Gloss Blue within the general tolerance range of PRU Blue. The writing looks to be Dark blue but may be colour seepage and in fact black, your choice.
For sure the paint degraded quite quickly and later shots show it quite faded. Blue seems to do that.
Two identical requests within one week. One or both from the US. Interesting.
Mark
By: antoni - 29th January 2009 at 18:05
Try forum member VoyTech. There are two photographs of this aircraft in his book Classic Warbirds Merlin PR Spitfires. Look as though they were taken from a magazine or newspaper. It was PL983 not PL963. There is a profile. Does not say what the colour is but comparing it to the other profiles it looks like PRU Blue (dark blue-grey) FS 35189. The text, in black, reads:
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CIVIL AIR ATTACHE LONDON
By: DazDaMan - 29th January 2009 at 16:54
Are you sure it’s not PL983, which is currently being rebuilt to fly?
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January 29, 2009 at 3:00 pm