W/C Skalski Spitfire "SS"

Well worked out Voytech. Now we just need the reg. Although the quote “Although not a Wing Comander, I did have access to my own Spitfire, another Mk VII, and rather cheekily I had ‘SS’ painted on the side to denote its owner.” implies he uses a VII with 131 and another based somewhere else, that being SS that may be attached to another VII squadron.

Most likely it would belong to 11 Group HQ.

Now Mr Matusiak, was Skalski’s SS RK853 or is that a mistake?

Well worked out Voytech. Now we just need the reg. Although the quote “Although not a Wing Comander, I did have access to my own Spitfire, another Mk VII, and rather cheekily I had ‘SS’ painted on the side to denote its owner.” implies he uses a VII with 131 and another based somewhere else, that being SS that may be attached to another VII squadron.

Andy Thomas (the co-author of “Combat Codes”, among others) says that Sammy Sampson mentioned in his autobiography flying a Spitfire VII with 131 Sqn during his staff posting to 11 Group HQ: “Although not a Wing Comander, I did have access to my own Spitfire, another Mk VII, and rather cheekily I had ‘SS’ painted on the side to denote its owner.”
This might also explain the Spitfire’s presence at Northolt, a regular landing point for staff oficers in London.

The only squadron I can think of with these undersized invasion stripes saw 131 with there NX marked HF.VII spitfires. These later got standard camoflague, but I think still kept the small invasion stripes. Also the cockpit could be pressurized with a larger peice of glazing behind the sliding canopy.

I, too, think this is a Mk VII. Culmhead Wing flew these Spitfires, with undersize bands. W/Cdr Pete Brothers is said to have had a personal coded Mk VII, MD188 PB during summer/early autumn 1944 (I don’t recall seeing a photo). Can we check who succeeded him at this post or who was Station Commander at Culmhead at the time, for a match to “S.S.” initials?

Narrow stripes can also be found on other aircraft/squadrons, Typhoons in particular. 2nd Tactical Air Force vol 2 page 311 & 342, vol 4 page 635. They are also found in other squadrons in Air Defence Great Britain (previously known as 11 Group). There is a very good photograph of a 64 Squadron Spifire Mk IX with the ‘full monty’ on page 635 2nd Tactical Air Force vol 4. As the caption says ‘but no orders authorising their use have come to light.’

I think we’ve missed some clues, although some more knowledgable to confirm or deny my thoughts. The only squadron I can think of with these undersized invasion stripes saw 131 with there NX marked HF.VII spitfires. These later got standard camoflague, but I think still kept the small invasion stripes. Also the cockpit could be pressurized with a larger peice of glazing behind the sliding canopy. Should there be anything visible in this picture to prove if this is a IX or VII.

Dear all, thank you for your comment.

Edgar, according with C.Thomas Spitfire RK853 was instead Sammy Sampson’s personal plane. Here a photo of RK853: as you may note it is a different plane from that posted in my previous post.

Regarding the black/white bands these are very narrow and they don’t seem D-Day’s bands; I am not an expert of RAF ID marks, could them be applied sometimes before D-Day for some other reasons?

Flavio

They have the same serial number listed for both Sampson and Skalski. Also in short article in Flypast April 2006. They have Skalski as Wing Commander Flying 133 Wing. Not with a Spitfire. 133 Wing was a Mustang Wing and he had FZ152 then.

The author Wojtek Matusiak may be able to help you. He is a member of this forum under the name Voytech. Send him a PM.

It is very unlikely that the bands are anything other than the special markings applied for D-Day.

Personally I think they have been covered up, they would have been all the way round the fuselage, paint jobs on planes would have been slap dash to say the least no paint shop available it would have been done on the field so to say

Nope. They began removing the stripes within one month of D-Day.

HQ AEAF order 6th July 1944 gave some aircraft permission to carry stripes on the under surfaces only. The earliest dateable photograph showing no upper surface stripes is AOC 84 Group’s Spitfire IX, L-OB, MK910 4th July 1944.

19th August 1944 Amendment 3 to original SHAEF memorandum stated that all wing stripes would be removed during the period 25th August to 10th September.

6th December 1944. Issue of suspension of SHAEF Operational Memorandum 23, to take effect 31st December 1944. This stated all distinctive markings to be removed from all aircraft except PR Mosquitoes and Spitfires of 34 Wing.

The markings were applied with special distemper that could be easily removed with warm water leaving the under surface paint undamaged. Unit were instructed to have supplies available before D-Day.

Spitfire “SS”

Dear all, thank you for your comment.

Edgar, according with C.Thomas Spitfire RK853 was instead Sammy Sampson’s personal plane. Here a photo of RK853: as you may note it is a different plane from that posted in my previous post.

Regarding the black/white bands these are very narrow and they don’t seem D-Day’s bands; I am not an expert of RAF ID marks, could them be applied sometimes before D-Day for some other reasons?

Flavio

“SS” was Skalski’s Spitfire IX RK853, according to “Combat Codes,” by Vic Flintham and Andrew Thomas.
Edgar

invasion stripes

Personally I think they have been covered up, they would have been all the way round the fuselage, paint jobs on planes would have been slap dash to say the least no paint shop available it would have been done on the field so to say

The invasion stripes place it in the last quarter of 1944 and certainly rule out No. 1. In theory the stripes should have gone in 1945 as they were ordered to be removed at the beginning January 1945. From 6/4/44 Skalski was with 133 Wing flying Mustang III FZ152.