Spitfires that have worn a Red spinner

Wasn’t the use of red spinners common to most if not all Commonwealth fighters operating in the Mediteranian areas ? I understood it was an I.D. issue like the yellow leading edges in North-West Europe.

Wasn’t it Dizzy Allen that claimed it was his fault that he gave his CO a scare, prompting the order for the red spinners?

I recall only one spit of 66 had the red spinner and that was LZ-N? not sure though

Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh ordered the whole squadron to have their spinners painted Red. R6800 is the most famous because it was the Squadron Leaders mount. It would be interesting to know how long the spinners stayed Red, probably till the change in colour in early December 1940 to Sky.

Thank you!

Annoyingly, I can’t find a photo of it, but Spitfire Tr.9 MH367 had a red spinner when she was originally restored, wearing the markings WD-Q while in the USA.

MH367 example

Annoyingly, I can’t find a photo of it, but Spitfire Tr.9 MH367 had a red spinner when she was originally restored, wearing the markings WD-Q while in the USA.

Almost forgot about this one – TE184…..

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:”none”,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”spitfire_te184_hl-k_fargo-express.jpg”,”data-attachmentid”:3860026}[/ATTACH]

Conversation starter…

about Spitfires 🙂

OK, I’ll be the one to ask………what is the relevance/purpose of the red spinner?

I know you have MJ730 as GZ-?, with a red nose 1990 till now, but it was also marked HT-W with a red nose in 1990 (6 May at Upper Heyford and 9/10 June at Boscombe Down).

Good point, another one to add to the list.

Tables now updated, see post #1.

Not included wartime aircraft as this exercise was focused on the warbird-era. I am sure there were hundreds of red-nosed Spitfires during their service careers.

I recall only one spit of 66 had the red spinner and that was LZ-N? not sure though

A bit cheeky this but don`t forget the Spitfires of 66 Squadron in September 1940. Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh ordered the change of colour after mistaking his wing man for a 109E . ……..I`ll get my coat ……:-D

I know you have MJ730 as GZ-?, with a red nose 1990 till now, but it was also marked HT-W with a red nose in 1990 (6 May at Upper Heyford and 9/10 June at Boscombe Down).

Daz, you are right just scanned my notes and Mk.I K9942 appeared as RN-V with a Red spinner at the 1968 review at RAF Abingdon.

And just thought of another I had missed, Mk.IX / Tr.9 MJ627 she is currently sporting a Red spinner.

Edit,
and another – Mk.I X4590 marked as PR-F with a Red spinner at RAF Colerne & RAF Upper Heyford c1970-1971.

Thought of another one – Spitfire K9942. I definitely recall a photo of it with a red spinner, but can’t remember exactly where. The image of her wearing the codes RN-V in Spitfire Survivors Vol.1 is in black and white, however.

That’s a lot more than I could think of!