Hi, all. I was wondering if you could help me out with some of the history of this photo. I was given it by a friend who works for the council. He found it when they were clearing out a property.
On the back is “Steve and Paddy working on my Spit, 1942” in pencil.
A quick search of Google says it’s in 19sqn markings but was tranferred to an OTU at the end of 1941: hence the puzzle.
The photo does look quite old, so I was wondering if it is the original. A google image search only shows this shot come up, credited to the IWM.
I guess that I’m wondering whether it was the original, or a later copy made to look older.
ANy help would be greatfully appreciated.
Dan
By: BigDan - 7th July 2008 at 19:07
I have read that the yellow spinner was so that other pilots could tell which was the OC’s aircraft. Thanks for the replies. I kind of guessed that it could have been what antoni said. Either different QV-K or same aircraft different time period. Either way it’s a nice shot.
By: BSG-75 - 6th July 2008 at 16:45
Quite a well known picture I think ?, the spit was used by Squadron Leader Brian lane, OC 19 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, this image is in the Osprey MK1 Spitfire Aces book captioned as 1940 at Fowlmere. The aircraft had a yellow spinner its said from a brief spell at an OTU. P9386 was also featured by Corgi in two di-cast models in 1/32 and 1/72 scale with the yellow spinner – the OTU story doesn’t seem to fit in with the history of aircraft movements that can be found.
By: antoni - 6th July 2008 at 16:35
Mk I. 1st Flight 1-3-40 AMDP speed trials with company test pilots 6-3-40. 38 MU 11-5-40. 257 Sq 18-5-40. 19 Sq 3-9-40. 152 Sq 26-9-40. 58 OTU 23-3-41. SAL 12-9–41. 52 OTU 17-11-41. 57 OTU 29-43. dived into ground East Lotian Cat E 5-5-44.
Not with 19 Sq for very long. Perhaps who ever wrote the inscription acquired the photograph and mistook it for another QV-K he flew or recognised the serial number od a Spitfire he once flew elsewhere. Highly unlikely that a MK I would be in front line service in 1942.
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July 6, 2008 at 4:02 pm