Spitfire P7350

Great to see the work completed and the aircraft flying in the new paint scheme! The aircraft was sent to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar last year for major servicing, at which time the aircraft was also repainted (the decision for the Al Deere markings was announced as early as February 2018). It was just completed and arrived back with the BBMF at Coningsby in late July.

Here are a couple of photos from the BBMF Facebook page, taken just as the work on the aircraft was being wrapped up at Biggin in early-mid July:
https://scontent.ffcm1-2.fna.fbcdn.n…28&oe=5E129795
https://scontent.ffcm1-1.fna.fbcdn.n…2e&oe=5DD478E3

ErrolC;

Thanks for the heads up on the scheme change. I have long hoped that one of the BBMF Spits would honour 54 Squadron and Al Deere. It’s been a long wait, but judging by that photograph, well worth the wait. Well done BBMF! Now, I just need to get to see her somewhere this year.

Steve

QJ-K

Hi Fluffy…

Ohhh….I’m a bit disappointed. As we’ve seen P7350 in 92 Sqdn markings before…could we have something else???;)

I’ve long kept my fingers crossed for one of Al Deere’s famous “Kiwi’s” from 54 Squadron. I’ve always wondered why this great New Zealander has never been honoured on a BBMF Spit (along with 54 Squadron). After all, it’s long been a favorite with model companies such as Airfix, which put this aircraft into the public awareness, especially on their flagship 1/24th scale Spitfire. I know that there will eventually be the Brendan Deere project (MkIX), but I always liked the Mk1 “Kiwi’s” that he flew. Looks like I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed then!!

Regards;
Steve

It took a while, but has been “Kiwi III” since April

A short TVNZ news piece:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/british-spitfire-receives-makeover-commemorate-world-war-ii-nz-fighter-pilot

Thanks for correcting me Roobarb:o

Yes it is having extra work done as requested by the MOD project management team. It with the Aircraft Restoration Company and not HFL, though the use of their jigs has been handy…:)

Thougt you would be at Leuchars today watching the Spitfire!

Which of these two schemes do you like best. P.S. I know my amendments to the drawings are a bit rough and ready

Not been to Leuchars in YEARS! :rolleyes:

Like the first scheme – I seem to recall that being one of the options in the old Airfix 1:24 Spit Ia.

Good luck with whatever paint scheme you choose fluffy, long live the bbmf.

Best wishes

from A inspired 14 year old boy.

P.s You probably get this all the time, but can i just say again that your book is fantastic. Oh and is the Dakota flying over Martlesham Heath tommorow?

That’d be nice!

Thougt you would be at Leuchars today watching the Spitfire!

Which of these two schemes do you like best. P.S. I know my amendments to the drawings are a bit rough and ready

It would be nice to see an early war pre-BofB Spit scheme with black/white undersides and early style roundels and no fin flash…..don’t think that’s ever been seen before.

That’d be nice!

Not QJ-K, but a Mk.II sister ship that may help prepare the livery spec.

Mark

Fluffy I have seen your reply about who desides the colour scheme…….so please have a word with your Boss!!!!!!!.:)

To see P7350 with the QJ codes will be much nicer if IT WAS 616 SQN. You may or not be aware but this Spitfire did fly with 616 during March-April 1941, plus it’s The Sqn’s 70th in November.:)

Officially 616 changed its code from QJ to YQ but the order was not recieved until mid 1941- hence the confusion. Early 616 aircraft had oversized code letters, so are easy to compare with 92 Sqn aircraft photographs.:confused:

Incidentally, this Mk II was the personal aircraft of Buck Casson.:D

It would be nice to see an early war pre-BofB Spit scheme with black/white undersides and early style roundels and no fin flash…..don’t think that’s ever been seen before.

Fluffy, can we have one with that oddly proportioned A type roundel on “P”, pretty please?

Think you will be seeing that on a Mk1 from HFL in the not too distant future…;)

Fluffy, can we have one with that oddly proportioned A type roundel on “P”, pretty please? Of course, it would depend on exactly when you’re intending to represent – Mark’s other photos being… 1941 onwards, with the sky tail band…
I note also the unusual triangular shape of the “cross bar” on the Q – these are of course the features that lend a scheme character!

As its going to ARCO at least the dark earth will be correct.:eek:

Roobs can you hear me………..?????:D

Err, loud and clear BWB, almost as loud as your machine from the far end of the airfield or as loud as the offending “tan wee jobbie” brown you refer to 😉

We seemed to get it right on the Hurricane LF363 a couple of years ago, (no complaints that I recall anyway) so it shouldn’t be a problem. 🙂

Fluffy,

All these are 92 Squadron.

Mark

Fluffy,

“Is the picture 3 Spits on the ground, QJ-S, QJ-X and QJ-F or P, if so I have it also I have a picture of QJ-P after a wheels up landing”

Nope, different picture. Sorry, don’t feel I can post it as its straight from a book. Its QJ-K, QJ-F (or possibly E) behind and from the nose letter QJ-B (or possibly S to the right). If it is S, that makes it Allan Wright’s own aircraft, which would fit with the photo originating from him. Of course he was in B Flight, which would make the other version of the picture caption wrong too!

Have sent you an email.

ps Shame about the spinner and the exhausts – maybe one day?

As its going to ARCO at least the dark earth will be correct.:eek:

Roobs can you hear me………..?????:D

Mark thanks for the picture but I believe it is a 616 Sqn a/c for some reason 92 and 616 had the same codes until 1941

Fluffy,

Ah! I see from the record card it is indeed 616 Squadron.

I have some other Mk I ‘QJ’ shots on my data base. I will check them out.

Mark

[QUOTE=CIRCUS 6;1295870] The”policy” and who writes the hymn sheet.QUOTE]

They come from the Boss

Fluffy, the only photo I know of and which I am sure you will have is in Brian Kingcome’s book, ‘A Willingness to Die,’ captioned (wrongly I think) Manston Feb 1941 – the spinners are black with no sky band around the rear fuselage. The same photo, sourced from Allan Wright appears in a smaller form in ‘Best of the Few 92 Squadron 1939-40,’ where it is (probably correctly) captioned ‘A-Flight about to leave for Bibury.’ As they were leaving from Pembrey, presumably it is Pembrey. QJ-K looks to have A scheme camouflage with a standard 35 inch type A1 roundel, with standard 92 Squadron size and placing of the Squadron letters on the port side with the top left quadrant of the Q on the cockpit side door. The serial number K9998 is fairly clearly visible. Kingcome’s QJ-F is visible in the background. Also in A Flight at the time of the transit were Sammy Saunders, Tony Bartley, Gus Edwards, Jimmy Paterson, Wimpy Wade, Ronnie Fokes and Michael Barraclough – presumably one of them flew QJ-K that day.

As I’m sure you are also well aware, on the starboard side 92 Squadron painted the Squadron code forward of the roundel with the aircraft identification letter behind. It was also standard practice for the Squadron to paint the aircraft identification letter on the underside of the engine cowling just behind the spinner.

If you do need a copy of the photo, let me know and I can scan and email it to you.

One plea I would make – if BBMF does plan to represent this vintage Spitfire Mk 1, the second last of the initial order of 310, it would be very sad to see P7350 still bearing a pointed spinner and a stack of 6 exhausts instead of the standard Mk 1 configuration, or even the Rotol short spinner for the standard Mk II!

Is the picture 3 Spits on the ground, QJ-S, QJ-X and QJ-F or P, if so I have it also I have a picture of QJ-P after a wheels up landing

Unfortunately she will retain the spinner and the 6 exhaust stubs.

Mark thanks for the picture but I believe it is a 616 Sqn a/c for some reason 92 and 616 had the same codes until 1941

Fluffy, the only photo I know of and which I am sure you will have is in Brian Kingcome’s book, ‘A Willingness to Die,’ captioned (wrongly I think) Manston Feb 1941 – the spinners are black with no sky band around the rear fuselage. The same photo, sourced from Allan Wright appears in a smaller form in ‘Best of the Few 92 Squadron 1939-40,’ where it is (probably correctly) captioned ‘A-Flight about to leave for Bibury.’ As they were leaving from Pembrey, presumably it is Pembrey. QJ-K looks to have A scheme camouflage with a standard 35 inch type A1 roundel, with standard 92 Squadron size and placing of the Squadron letters on the port side with the top left quadrant of the Q on the cockpit side door. The serial number K9998 is fairly clearly visible. Kingcome’s QJ-F is visible in the background. Also in A Flight at the time of the transit were Sammy Saunders, Tony Bartley, Gus Edwards, Jimmy Paterson, Wimpy Wade, Ronnie Fokes and Michael Barraclough – presumably one of them flew QJ-K that day.

As I’m sure you are also well aware, on the starboard side 92 Squadron painted the Squadron code forward of the roundel with the aircraft identification letter behind. It was also standard practice for the Squadron to paint the aircraft identification letter on the underside of the engine cowling just behind the spinner.

If you do need a copy of the photo, let me know and I can scan and email it to you.

One plea I would make – if BBMF does plan to represent this vintage Spitfire Mk 1, the second last of the initial order of 310, it would be very sad to see P7350 still bearing a pointed spinner and a stack of 6 exhausts instead of the standard Mk 1 configuration, or even the Rotol short spinner for the standard Mk II!