One for Von Perthes, 131 Squadron

Another nice one Dan, mate, pal, chum, buddy (yes, I am after something.)

Geoff.

Just for fun, Ray Harrie’s “Bromley” based on the info provided here.

Dan

Thanks all. That certainly fills in the details 🙂

Dan

Another view of MA807. ‘Spitfire-The ANZACS’ says that this is a Mk IXc, which has no outer cannon stubs, and that it is not fitted with a ‘b’ wing.

MA807/’BROMLEY’/SK-T/formerly NX-K. If you look at the ‘T’ you can see part of the painted out ‘K’. (photo – Wally Marr, on right in foreground)

Dan,

Your photo is one of a series of photos of 131 squadron’s Spitfires taken on two visits to the squadron in 1942. The batch from which yours comes was taken between 14/5/42 and 5/6/42. Ray’s Spitfire at the time was BL600, which almost certainly carried the code letters NX-H (‘H’ for Harries!)

I have no documentary/photographic proof that BL600 was named ‘BROMLEY’, but it is I think a fairly safe bet that it was.

Bromley presented their Spitfire prior to 131 squadron becoming the ‘County of Kent’ sqdn (R7262 as jbs mentions) but when 131 sqdn was named, the name ‘BROMLEY’ was transferred to a 131 sqdn Spitfire.

Each time a Spitfire was lost/transferred etc. the name it had carried was painted on the replacement a/c, so each name would be carried in turn by a number of a/c. On 131 sqdn, there were as many as four ‘BROMLEY’s in turn, BL600, EN944, BM121 & MA807, and maybe even more!

Here’s another photo of Ray with ‘BROMLEY’

Geoff.

Dan,

I have a shot of ‘Bromley’ with 165 Sqd post 131 Sqd.

It is MA807 SK-T.

Mark

P.S. Clearly two ‘Bromleys’ as your pic is of the Mk. V

Dan,

I have “Bromley” as Mk.V R7262, don’t have any more detail than that I’m afraid

Hope this helps

John