I don’t think SM520 was one of the Vickers conversions, unless it was IAC160?

158
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF7722 MJ627

159
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF7269 MJ772

160
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF????

161
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF9590 PV202

162
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF8643 ML407

163
Supermarine V.S. 509 Spitfire T.9
CBAF11432 TE308

Oh, here we go again, all the Irish Spitfires were to Specification 502.
I am now about to put my head down…down…lower…
Tony K

I know we have been there before Tony.

The Irish Air Corps may have initiated their contract when type 502s were still on the table but what they received were type 509 Mk IX TRAINERS. All the Vickers drawings available, and they are substantial, support this nomenclature.

I would suggest that the IAC documentation is just sloppy contract management

Mark

It’ll all be in the book. 🙂

Hi Peter,
I know that we have discussed this before and knowing some of the people who were responsible at the time both in the contracts section and the Chief Aeronautical Engineers section of the Air Corps I would not go down the road of sloppy contract management. I certainly would not suggest that the Vickers -Armstrong Advice and Release Note for Spitfire 159 dated 5 June 1951 ( the date it was delivered to Ireland) which specifies type 502 was also the result of sloppy management. Its there in black and white.

ah feck it Peter, when are we going to get the BOOK!
Regards
Tony

I the case of the Avro Cadet (1935) in the Irish Air Corps museum, the plate refers to the Manufacturers number.
Tony K

Merlin 70,
Spitfire ML417 was never in Irish Air Corps service, the others listed are correct there were originally six but one MK721 No 160 was destroyed in a crash in 1957.It is all there in Greg Davis’ new publication, well woth having.
Tony K

Hello Roobarb, sorry I do not know your name. I too like the silver scheme and agree that the when 161 /PV202 was finished in green it was very close but not correct. When the call went out for the colour scheme used by the Irish Air Corps, I heard it on Irish radio and it made it to the Irish newspapers. I responded and I sent the details, I also happened to be in Cambridge and Suffolk and took the opportunity to visit Duxford. I was shown the wreckage of the Spitfire and told of the plans to rebuild. I supplied photographs and details of the colour scheme and the location of the markings etc. I heard nothing more.
The Spitfire came to Dublin /Baldonnel and everyone was delighted to see it again but the ex Air Corps Techies all agreed that it was not as they had seen it and worked on. I mentioned this to a Duxford official and very courteously suggested that if the Spitfire should require a make over that it should be Green Gloss not matt. This person walked away and turned slightly and said when you get your own Spitfire you can finish it any way you like. Well I did just that (a plastic kit ) and finished it in correct Air Corps colours, I was as happy as the proverbial pig in ….well you know what. Some people who heard the remark thought it was a classic put down. Smart guy. I have the files on the purchase of the Six Spitfires including specifications for the paint scheme and location of markings. The overall colour was cockpit green but in a gloss finish, cockpit interior was black and walkways extended, the latter two clearly visible in the photographs supplied, none of this was applied.
Regarding Seafire RX168 this was finished in a matt scheme and once out of service it faded, I have one of the engine cowlings from RX168 and the paint has completely faded giving no real indication of the real colour. Spinner colours varied according to the flight A B or C of the Fighter Squadron at Gormanston.
Regards
Tony K
Historical advisor to the Irish Air Corps .