Regarding the screws, read the forum pages of this web site: http://www.internationalcockpitclub.org.uk they list a number of mail order companies who sell BA screws (suitable for instrument panels).

682al should be able to help…when I am back on the circuit and unpacked, I can let people have BA stuff for low prices (depending on what you need)

Funny this, it’s supposed to be Ray Holmes kill, but it is also partly attributed to Keith Ogilvie of 609 isn’t it?

Quite a few had a go at it Snapper you are correct (not least Sgt Hubacek of 310 Sqn….he was shot down later in the day…I know someone who has the grip from the aircraft :rolleyes: ).

Yes Don, I was thinking the same thing. Is this the famous ‘Kiwi’ Spitfire? Chances are it isn’t. I think he lost four Spitfires during the BofB alone off the top of my head.

I recall reading his book years ago, a brilliant book. He was bombed on take-off and was buried in his Spitfire upside down on one occasion. Just like in the BofB film!

All his Spits were named Kiwi…1, 2, &3+

Thanks for that additional info. It always irritates me when publications refer to A&AEE as ‘Aircraft’ & Armament instead of ‘Aeroplane’. However you failed to mention that before it became part of DTEO, it was actually renamed ‘Aircraft & Armament Evaluation Establishment for a short while, conveniently keeping the same initials. One thing I forgot to mention is that the cockpit area of XB261 still survives at Duxford and is in the large hangar and open for viewing.

That was certainly some short while! So short, I don’t think it was official. Did you ever work at A&AEE?

OK lets wait for Rocketter to arrive on this one but I would hazard a guess that its from wing sections or tail plane Mod Plate.
Modification Plate;
This makes it easy to identify if a part has had the latest modifications carried out, remove inspection panel and hey presto you can tell if this mod has been done or not, so this part had been modified to Drawing issue 159 this would have made the airframe fitters work a lot easier.

Sounds like tail plane me old pecker!! 🙂

Several aircraft were built especially for the RAF at the beginning of the war. The likes of the Mustang, Hudson and Ventura.

I know that the MkII Harvard was specifically built with British style contorls like the spade grip and hand brakes rather than toe breaks. Were the early versions of the Mustang, Hudson and Ventura also set up inside with a British layout?

What about the P40B’s and E’s sent to the RAF which fought in the desert, our their early B17’s? Were their interiors redesigned for the British? Or did RAF pilots simply adapt to the different style and layout of US aircraft?

Were any other American built planes originally designed and built specifically for the RAF?

I have often discussed such things with other cockpit fans. To my knowledge, the Hudson had some UK fittings fitted. The Harvard was the only real anglocised cockpit, however, you are slightly wrong about the brakes. The Harvard had a classic spade grip (normally an AH2242) which has no provision for a bowden cable and brake lever…i.e. the pedals still activated the wheel brakes. I have seen some modellers giving P40 and razorback P51’s spade grips….bit fanciful methinx as I have seen no proof of this.