September 7, 2009 at 11:29 am
an aircraft iv been trying to find information on is of one of the Swedish Supermarine Spitfire PR.19’s which was used on overflights of Finland (and presumably other Baltic regions?) with its ‘Swedish crown’ roundels removed and civillian codes applied?
does anyone know of any images of the markings or indeed the serial used? or any further information on the flights?
so far what iv found is that during the late 1940’s the Swedish military had learned from reports that the Soviets were constructing rocket stations near the Finnish border in Kantalahti/Kandalaksha (possibly the root of some of those post war ‘ghost rocket’ reports?)
The Swedish Air Force sent Lieutenant Ingemar Wängström in civillian clothes in his Spitfire PR.19 with over-painted Swedish markings to photograph the sites in question.
After analysing the 200 meter long film Wängström had photographed, the HQ noticed no rocket stations in the area.
Six MiG-15s (3 pairs) had followed the Spitfire but none of them got close enough to engage.
The overflight was observed by Finnish Border Guard posts, but the Swedish goverment denied any flight over Finland and USSR in 20.12.1949.
many thanks, cheers, Joe