Spitfire Odds-n-Ends

Actually none of thse came from footnote. Everytime I try and download a photo from their site my computer goes bonkers:eek:
Oscar Coen gave me the shot of the 4th FG Spit getting an engine change.
The others came from a trip to the National Archives (many but not all can be found on footnote) while looking for AAF Spit shots. I do have a few others if your interested ie Eagle Sqd, 31st FG and few 52nd FG and 126 (?) squadron shots.

Sorry, I should have said it was my guess. I have seen all of these photos, except that of the French Captain, there, so I assumed that was where they came from.

??

Actually none of thse came from footnote. Everytime I try and download a photo from their site my computer goes bonkers:eek:
Oscar Coen gave me the shot of the 4th FG Spit getting an engine change.
The others came from a trip to the National Archives (many but not all can be found on footnote) while looking for AAF Spit shots. I do have a few others if your interested ie Eagle Sqd, 31st FG and few 52nd FG and 126 (?) squadron shots.

I’m sure I have seen another picture (colour one, perhaps) of the same aeroplane where the serial number was visible and it was indeed MK629.

Good old Googledesk.

It was in that 16mm colour footage we were analysing. 🙂

Mark

John Rawlings in his tome ‘Fighter Squadrons’ drew his data from the Squadron ORB’s. He lists MK629 as being with 154 Squadron whose unit code was HT.

I’m sure I have seen another picture (colour one, perhaps) of the same aeroplane where the serial number was visible and it was indeed MK629.

The only problem with this aircraft being MK629 (and I’m not saying that it isn’t) is that its production record shows it to have been built as an LFIX – shouldn’t it have clipped wings?

The only MH*29 and MK*29 aircraft which were standard Mk IXs and not LFIXs were MH329 and MH829 – but there is no record of either serving with 154 Squadron.

Aircraft shipped to the North African campaign, Casablanca etc, did not have their unit allotment entered on their UK movement card. I think the paper trail was just too cumbersome.

On my high res monitor, Jack’s image looks to me to be an MK rather than an MH serial.

John Rawlings in his tome ‘Fighter Squadrons’ drew his data from the Squadron ORB’s. He lists MK629 as being with 154 Squadron whose unit code was HT.

Mark

Engines!

The only problem with this aircraft being MK629 (and I’m not saying that it isn’t) is that its production record shows it to have been built as an LFIX – shouldn’t it have clipped wings?

The only MH*29 and MK*29 aircraft which were standard Mk IXs and not LFIXs were MH329 and MH829 – but there is no record of either serving with 154 Squadron.

No, not necessarily. 😉

The F, LF, & HF prefixes were for the type of engine fitted and not for the type of wingtips.

F (M61), (63 & 63A) LF (M66) & HF (M70).

In theory you could have clipped wings on all of the above if operational needs were so. And with today’s airworthy MKIX’s it’s quite a possibility, as in the case of MK912 when it was first flew!

Nice pics btw Jack, and good to see you posting here.

Cheers

Paul

Interesting roundal on EF553 also.

Does any body know what the lighter colour patches are on all three Spit’s just forward of the tails?

Hi all, the lighter coloured patch on MH869 is a doped canvass patch covering the flare tube hole. As too the other three pictures im not sure because they are too far back for flare tube.Maybe part of camoflage !! Mark 12 may have the answer. Nice pictures any way.

Steve.

Spitfire HT-V will be MK629 of 154 Squadron.

Mark

The only problem with this aircraft being MK629 (and I’m not saying that it isn’t) is that its production record shows it to have been built as an LFIX – shouldn’t it have clipped wings?

The only MH*29 and MK*29 aircraft which were standard Mk IXs and not LFIXs were MH329 and MH829 – but there is no record of either serving with 154 Squadron.

im sure we can ask Rich !!

I particularly like the Debden shot with the GI’s installing the Merlin. It would be interesting to hear from a USAAF mechanic how they got on with the Spit’s bits and pieces, if their previous experience had been on the “simpler” American types.

Superb Jack – as Bograt says – if this is what happens when WiX is down, I’ll be sending an EMP special delivery to Scott when its back up! 🙂

TT

Spitfire HT-V will be MK629 of 154 Squadron.

Mark

Spitfire Mk IX 601 Sqd (?) s/n MH_29

154 Sqn in Corsica prior to Southern France landings

Spitfire MKVbTrops being serviced in Italy 1944

More like Mk VCs. That’s Yugoslav ground crew training IIRC.

Spitfire Mk IX MH869 Polish Squadron

No. 302 ‘City of Poznan’ Squadron

Does any body know what the lighter colour patches are on all three Spit’s just forward of the tails?

Gas patches, presumably

May I be so bold as to ask where you came across them?

www.footnote.com

but it was serial number BR498 Got a image of this one in your collection?

That’s the one in the first photo in this thread

Jack anymore images from Malta? 185 Sqdn? The one of Wg Cdr Peter Prosser Hanks aircraft is very interesting since my friend Jerry B served under his command. He said that Mr. Hanks did not let anyone fly his aircraft, ofcourse Jerry did but it was serial number BR498 Got a image of this one in your collection?

Cheers Dave C

Interesting roundal on EF553 also.

Does any body know what the lighter colour patches are on all three Spit’s just forward of the tails?

These are certainly lovely shots. May I be so bold as to ask where you came across them?

4th picture, foreground almost certainly EF553 as the only two letter Spitfire serial numbers with second letter F were EF, Mk V & JF, Mk VIII. EF553 was Mk Vc (Tropical), built with a Merlin 46 by Westland; delivered to 8 Maintenance Unit, 16.02.43; then to 52 MU, 01.03.43; embarked, along with JK226, which looks to be the one at the back, on the Harpolycus, 22.03.43; arriving in Casablanca 06.04.43. EF553was taken on charge North West Africa, 31.05.43. I know no other details until it was struck off charge on 26.04.45. JK226 went on to serve with 308 Squadron USAAF, 32 squadron RAF (was that its home when this photo was taken?) and the Royal Hellenic Air Force from 25.11.46.

The one in the middle is JK868. It was a casualty of friendly fire, when it was shot down by a US Anti Aircraft battery on approach to Sala airstrip, Salerno on 10.09.43. It was in North Africa by 30.11.43 and again I know no more details till it was struck off charge on 26.04.45.

I assume from the inscription on EF553 that it has probably just arrived on a ferry flight, presumably from North Africa in late July 1944. Is this a maintenance unit or holding facility where these 3 war weary aircraft came together? What else happened to them in 1944?

Fascinating stuff as always, Jack; why don’t you just stay over here with us when WIX comes back up!!!:cool:

Spitfire Mk V 4th FG 1942 Debden, UK : Despite the obviously British aircraft , the featured groundcrew in this shot couldn’t possibly be other than USAAF, could they? You can almost taste the Wrigley’s gum!
Thanks for sharing these classic photos.:)
On second thoughts, has anyone else noticed why are they all so camera-shy? Ex-Chicago, perhaps? :diablo:

Nice ones Jack!

Top one, BR498, PP-H, personal aircraft of Wg Cdr Peter Prosser Hanks, commander Luqa wing, who arrived in Malta 07.08.42 on a Hudson transport from Gibraltar.