"The Query"

Many thanks, Mark.

Presumably the serial is in the usual place, but being black on red, does not show up well enough to be identified?

You’d think it would, though, unless RN201/TD248’s red stripe is a different shade?

(pic from www.avions-de-legende.com)

Many thanks, Mark.

Presumably the serial is in the usual place, but being black on red, does not show up well enough to be identified?

Mike J

If it is on there, it is a puzzle that it does not show even under a glass on the original prints. The same shot is in the Aircam book together with a colour side profile with the serial ‘LA214’

Mark

Very interesting, Mark.

Can you show us a scan of the photo of the silver / red scheme in 1947, please?

Mike J,

There are two similar shots in circulation. I have copy negatives but for speed of post I have scanned this shot from the Key Pubs book.

Mark

Spitfire – Silver with red trim

The original contra prop silver Mk 21 Spitfire of 41 Sqd with the red ‘Cross of St Omer’ in plan and displayed at the ‘Blackpool Races’ in 1947 is now, after much deliberation, almost certainly LA217 GO-?, formerly of the CFE, and then alloted to 41 Sqd. for just a few weeks coincident with the races. It is interesting to note that RAF Church Fenton was the home base of 41 Sqd at that time.

This ‘silver and red cross’ livery has of course been replicated on two of the HFL Spitfires currently flying in Europe.

Mark

Just a little to add to this post of last November .

In searching for a book last evening for JDK’s dedicated aircraft publications , I happened upon several Spitfire books I have in the Russian language. Two are downright ‘lifts’ of Osprey books but one seems to be a modellers oriented book drawing technical information from the Russian Pilots Notes for the Mks V & IX.

Although the side views are very low grade by western standards and most are of wildly fictitious serials and markings, six and seven digit RAF serials etc, one side view really caught my eye. It is the famous’ Blackpool Racer’ whose serial was for so long speculated (See above) – and what should it have as a serial, not visible on any known western photograph, well damn me – LA217.

So perhaps some cold war spy…….

Here is the new shot of LA217, via Chris Thomas, that confirmed the contra-prop fit and copies of the Russian Journal.

Mark

http://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/

Thanks again!

The contra-prop silver Spitfire Mk.21 with red 41 Sqd. ‘Cross of St Omer’ trim.

This Spitfire has challenged historians with it’s identity over many years, the well published side view shot off it, at the time of the Blackpool Races in 1947, tantalizingly bereft of a serial.

Long the favorite of Spitfire illustrators, model feature writers and indeed one UK restoration shop, it has variously been claimed to be LA232 and LA214, both contra-prop Mk 21’s, among several so converted.

LA217 has never generally been recognised as a so converted machine but the attached photograph surfaced earlier this year together with the words:-

“He had a solitary Spit among his MkVs and IIs – not a survivor but with a loose connection which may be of interest. It was a Mk 21 with contra-rotating props visiting Gatow c.1946, and wearing AFDS codes GO- (? not visible)”.

A look at the record card of LA217 shows that it was very briefly on charge to 41 Sqd. From 18 June 1947 to 7 August 1947 very neatly bracketing the Blackpool races of July 1947.

That a Contra prop machine was noted all silver with a ‘?’ code at the 41 Sqd. base of RAF Church Fenton by Davski’s colleague, must surely now make LA217 the serial beyond reasonable doubt.

Davski – Please point us your friend’s website.

Mark

Credit photo: Bill McKerrow via Chris Thomas

Thanks guys – the mystery begins to unfold!

There was one Spit 24 (PK684) with contra-props.

The North to South speed record Spitfire was credited to K9895 flown by Sqd. Ldr. George Stainforth on 30 May 1939. This aircraft was subsequently written off in an OTU flying accident and SOC in August 1941.

The original contra prop silver Mk 21 Spitfire of 41 Sqd with the red ‘Cross of St Omer’ in plan and displayed at the ‘Blackpool Races’ in 1947 is now, after much deliberation, almost certainly LA217 GO-?, formerly of the CFE, and then alloted to 41 Sqd. for just a few weeks coincident with the races. It is interesting to note that RAF Church Fenton was the home base of 41 Sqd at that time.

This ‘silver and red cross’ livery has of course been replicated on two of the HFL Spitfires currently flying in Europe.

Mark