Korean War Spitfires

While we’re talking about these, could anyone furnish me with an 80 Sqdn/HKAAF Spitfire coded either D or R, or a good flying shot of Spit XIV NH904 in her 80 Sqdn markings??

Now, i may be wrong… but i THINK that there were suposed to be yellow and black stripes- but the maintainance wing ran out of yellow paint. Well, thats according to a history book ive got… but Korea isn’t really my forte.
Regards
BARNOWL

Yes, I liked the yellow markings too.

As for the stripes – the aircraft was with No. 80 Sqn in the defence of Hong Kong during the Communist uprising and takeover in China, so I wonder if the markings stem from that emergency?

Thanks for those, Dave. My Mk24 model didn’t turn out like that last one, unfortunately! 🙁

Interesting yellow markings on that Seafire, too!

I might be barking up the wrong tree but..

I think the stripes on those late model spitfires have something to do with service in Hong Kong :confused:

…barking up the wong tree, surely. 🙂

Mark

No help on the thinner stripes, sorry Daz – I have wondered the same thing in the past – but here’s a scan from the Warpaint book on Seafires, which shows what the Seafire’s stripes were like in Korea – just like those of the Sea Fury, and the D Day ones.

Also here’s a few links with snippets relates to the Mk 24 you might enjoy:

http://www.centuryjet.com/webstore/category.cfm?Category=25

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1997/05/stuff_eng_detail_spit24.htm

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal2/1401-1500/Gal1480_Spitfire_Ulgur/gal1480.htm

Yep – black and yellow nose bands!!

Someone please tell me what these black and white bands were for!!

Well I must admit to being really a bit thick and not knowing what these stripes are for!! I’m thinking Malaya, but something tells me Spits had black and yellow nose bands for this??

Nothing to do with Korea…Same area though. – Nermal

I might be barking up the wrong tree but..

I think the stripes on those late model spitfires have something to do with service in Hong Kong :confused:

I’ve also got the model of W2-A, and also W2-N (1/32).

I have that same model as above (W2-A) so IT MUST BE TRUE!!!
Regards
BARNOWL

Hmm, oh well! 😀

I must have been a bit confused. I always thought they had, especially as I’ve seen numerous Mk24 photos with the black and white stripes.

Hi Daz

No Spitfires saw service in the Korean War, although No 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force trained on LF Mk IXs before taking its Mustangs to war. HMS Triumph was in Far East waters with No 800 Squadron and its Seafire F.47s on board however, and their first operation was a strike by 12 Seafires and 9 Fireflies on Haeju airfield on 3 July 1950. Because of their short range, the Seafires were frequently given the Combat Air Patrol task over the fleet. During the Inchon landings in September, Seafires flew armed reconnaissance missions and spotted for the bombarding cruisers. But, by the end of the month, No 800 Squadron had only three serviceable aircraft and no replacements were available in the Far East. The inevitable crop of landing accidents and cumulative airframe stress damage meant the end of the Seafire’s operational life. Nevertheless, the squadron flew 245 offensive patrols and 115 ground attack sorties before HMS Triumph was replaced by HMS Theseus with its Sea Furies and Fireflies.

from:

http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/post_war.htm

Martin