Spitfire to identify please

From Avialogs:
http://www.avialogs.com/index.php/aircraft-production-data/spitfire-and-seafire/nh317.html

NH317 39MU 13-5-44 411S 22-6-44 CAC ops 31-7-44 Westland 13-2-45 mods 129S ‘DV-N’ 16-5-45 Ran off peritrack hit dispersal pen and overturned Hutton Cranswick CE 21-3-46 SOC 28-3-46

Now I have reported back to the owner of the photos to tell her what you lot have offered, she has been in touch with her sister who confirmed it was 129! And that “grandad worked on Mustangs as well”!!!

Just goes to show what the Key team can come up with. Thanks to all.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the pictured Spitfire was in fact NH317 DV-N (see post 8 above)?

Sorry, when I replied I knew nothing of the Norwegian context and just went on codes I could see.

hello Laurence

Seems like problem solved – Like 130 (Punjab) Squadron changing their Spitfire XIV’s to Spitfire IXb’s at the end of the European war 129 Squadron did something similar. They exchanged their Mustang III’s to the Spitfire IXe in May ’45.

Somebody must have had a sense of humour sending two squadrons in numerical order to Norway as part of the liberating force.

Allan

The owner of the photos tells me that her grandfather (in the photos) recalled it was very hot in Norway, so that agrees with it being 129. They were based at Bentwaters January to May 1945, and Norway June to November 1945. They finally finished up at Church Fenton where in September 1946 they were disbanded and renumbered as 257 Sq.

Graham: maybe. I see that 129 Squadron had Spitfire IX NH317 DV-N, according to Bowyer & Rawlings Squadron Codes. Also 129 was in Norway in 1945.

In the end I got hold of the second photo. At least one of the people featured is the same in both. This time it is said to be in Norway, but I have no information as to when each picture was taken.

129 Sq, coded DV?

Thanks Allan. It is possible that the second picture is not of the same squadron. When I get home tomorrow I shall post that second photo. When do you think this one was taken?

Hello Laurence

72 squadron (RN), were not in Norway – they were in Italy and Austria by this period – however, 130 (Punjab) Squadron were in Norway in from June 1945 (code AP – but it does not look like AP) with Spitfire IXb’s, having handed back their Spitfire XIV’s just after they left 125 Wing in May ’45.

19 squadron (QV) were not in Norway either – and had changed from Spitfire IX to Mustang III (then Mustang IV) in January 1944.

Allan

Thanks TA. I am away from my books today, so what is the code for 72? Any idea where this could be? The serial seems to start “N”. I have another photo from the same source supposedly taken in Norway. Was 72 there at any stage?

72 or 19 squadron I would think, more like 72 due to location of the “O”