During the sixties a colour photo portraying a Spitfire being bounced by a Bf 109 E was publisned as an example of Nazi propaganda. The caption suggested that the Spitfire image was grafted onto a Luftwaffe photo to create the illusion of an “action” photo.
Yesterday I came across these enclosed colour images, confirming that such a photo shoot did in fact take place invloving both planes.
The following questions came to mind.
(a)Were Spitfires captured before 1940, because “B” type roundels on the fuselage were only used in 1939.
(b) As far as I know, the RAF never used single letter sqdn. codes….could this be a German fabrication.
Any clarification to this would be appreciated.
The photos are from http://bpkgate.picturemaxx.com/webgate_cms/en/article/33.html&nav=
where a real treasure trove of new and not so new Luftwaffe colour images can be found.
By: Wellington285 - 19th October 2010 at 18:19
Found this link on another forum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11401.shtml
At 1 min 5 seconds there is a shot of a Spitfire smoking filmed from the nose of a bomber,is this the same Spitfire?
Trumper you are a genius what a fantastic web site.
Ian
By: spitfireman - 19th October 2010 at 16:19
Don’t have it to hand, what about the photo of a Spitfire trailing smoke pulling away from a He111, belly shot IIRC black/white underside?
By: Mark12 - 19th October 2010 at 15:01
Found this link on another forum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11401.shtml
At 1 min 5 seconds there is a shot of a Spitfire smoking filmed from the nose of a bomber,is this the same Spitfire?
The ‘Few’ interviewed in 1968/9. Fascinating.
Synopsis.
At a reunion of No. 501 Squadron at RAF Kenley, surviving Battle of Britain pilots gather to swap stories and recall the events of 1940. The ‘Man Alive’ team also visit some of the squadron members at their current homes and places of work to find out whether being part of such an elite band of men has had a lasting effect on their lives.
By: slicer - 19th October 2010 at 12:08
The last colour picture of the 109 trailing the Spitfire is reproduced as a double page spread on the title page of “The Most Dangerous Enemy” by Stephen Bungay…with the reversed fin flash.
Great thread, where would we be without Google Earth.
By: DazDaMan - 19th October 2010 at 11:48
So it would seem that the camera platform would more likely be the Bf110 as mooted earlier? It would make sense, I suppose.
Bang goes that theory! 😉
By: spitfireman - 19th October 2010 at 11:44
Also, the cockpit on the Dornier is so far forward and low, you cannot see the trailing edge of the wing.
By: DazDaMan - 19th October 2010 at 11:24
Hmm, good point.
I have a strange feeling, though, that the Spitfire vs. Dornier shot is actually from a film taken at the time, not just a sequence of pictures like the others. I could be 100% wrong, however…
By: JDK - 19th October 2010 at 10:52
…I wonder if the Dornier may have been the camera ship for the Spit vs. 109 photo?
But then who took that picture? :confused: Not, I suspect, the 109 pilot.
By: DazDaMan - 19th October 2010 at 10:24
In fact, having just posted that picture, I wonder if the Dornier may have been the camera ship for the Spit vs. 109 photo?
By: DazDaMan - 19th October 2010 at 10:22
This is also probably the same aircraft:
By: Batman - 19th October 2010 at 10:16
Probably – it has those oddly positioned wing roundels.
By: trumper - 19th October 2010 at 10:11
Presumably that’s the famous `Spitfire trailing smoke captured from the nose of a German bomber` you see in a lot of old war news reels, World at War etc.
Found this link on another forum
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/11401.shtml
At 1 min 5 seconds there is a shot of a Spitfire smoking filmed from the nose of a bomber,is this the same Spitfire?
By: Wellington285 - 18th October 2010 at 23:44
Ian not just a pretty face i see.
Thank you Steve, it surprised me how quick I found the location, unlike the photo I have at home and spent hours trying to find its location
Ian
By: spitfireman - 18th October 2010 at 15:00
Interesting, the fin flash has now returned to red/white/blue.
Which photos have been tinted?
By: Merlin Madness - 18th October 2010 at 14:19
Ian not just a pretty face i see.
By: Bob - 18th October 2010 at 14:12
This is getting better and better!
Right chaps,….two projects for today…..;)
(a) Identify the lake (See) in Falcon’s image…..with proof.
(b) Get the camera ship……there is also a tiny bit of wing in Falcon,s photo.
a) (1st pic)”Mirower See” and “Schulzensee” just below the Spitfire – aircraft flying in a northerly direction to the east of Rechlin probably with Granzow just off the starboard wing. (Google Maps using 3D plugin)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=L%C3%A4rz,+Germany&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=13.783636,37.133789&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=L%C3%A4rz,+M%C3%BCritz,+Mecklenburg-West+Pommerania,+Germany&ll=53.272372,12.819914&spn=0.027204,0.105228&t=f&z=14&ecpose=53.31421842,12.74074122,2456.5,131.453,71.146,0
a) (2nd pic) – Mirow town just behind the Spitfire with “Zorten-See” just below the camera ships tail fin –
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=L%C3%A4rz,+Germany&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=13.783636,37.133789&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=L%C3%A4rz,+M%C3%BCritz,+Mecklenburg-West+Pommerania,+Germany&ll=53.262019,12.815751&spn=0.013605,0.052614&t=f&z=15&ecpose=53.27614866,12.76997429,1438.18,117.281,68.155,0
b) Something with a twin tail fin configuration – Dornier?
Forget the above – misread the ‘challenge’…..
By: DazDaMan - 18th October 2010 at 09:13
That’s a great shot!
By: JDK - 18th October 2010 at 07:55
Good detail of the 109
By: Etienne - 18th October 2010 at 07:34
This is getting better and better!
Right chaps,….two projects for today…..;)
(a) Identify the lake (See) in Falcon’s image…..with proof.
(b) Get the camera ship……there is also a tiny bit of wing in Falcon,s photo.
By: Wellington285 - 17th October 2010 at 23:11
I think you are correct it looks like it.
I found another picture of the Spit and 109 with a different sky and background.
http://bpkgate.picturemaxx.com/preview.php?WGSESSID=89f51a23bce9766ca0fc88ea534957cd&UURL=13aa207dbc0807c6ed2f451b1f73ebc7&IMGID=00047530
Ian
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October 15, 2010 at 1:25 pm