Re MJ730, to clarify about the markings below is a quote from the book “The CO’S Query”” by Patrick J. Watts……..
Quote from page 52 of the book, “ The story behind MJ730’s allocated code ‘letter’ is fascinating, (and was the inspiration for the title of this book). After the CO had decided to use the aircraft as his personal machine, and before its individual code had been assigned, he had jokingly said to some of his ground crew that there was “… a bit of a question mark …” over which identity letter to give his Spitfire because he belonged to neither ‘A Flight nor ‘B’ Flight. The ground crew took the initiative in the matter and solved their Commanding Officer’s dilemma in a distinctive way. Cpl Tylee and his colleagues decided that a large ‘question mark. placed where the individual code letter would normally have appeared on the fuselage of MJ730, would be most appropriate in view of the CO’s remark. Sqn Ldr Silvester was highly amused by this gesture and the ‘?’ was allowed to stay. From then on MJ730 was referred tc The CO’s Query’. George Silvester’s next Spitfire would also receive the code GZ-? at Ramat David. A mini tradition had started on the Squadron! (Note: When the RAF dropped squadron code letters from fighter aircraft, 32 Squadron continued to paint a ‘query’ on their CO’ s machine. There exists a splendid photograph of a line of 32 Squadron Vampires, taken in the mid 1950’s, and clearly visible on the fin of the aircraft in the foreground, the CO’s machine, is a black ‘?’)” end quote.
Just a thought, what category does TE184/G-MXVI fall into restoration or recreation. Originally built as a low back Mk.XVI then converted to a high back configuration, how does that work with the CAA rules?
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