Hi Tony,
The Spitfire is MJ730, a Mk.IX which genuinely served with 32 Sqn in the Italian campaign. Most, if not all RAF fighters in that theatre had red or black spinners as a recognition feature. I believe obvious unit markings, such as the chequerboard markings on the fin, were forbidden in wartime. Many RAF squadrons before the war had adopted thier own colours, hence the colourful Hawker Furies, Bristol Bulldogs etc of the pre-war period. The marking on 32 sqn’s aircraft was the black/white chequer pattern, and these colours re-appeared after the war.
The aircraft marked with a question mark was known as the “CO’s Queery”, and there were atleast two squadrons in the Med/ N Africa theatre who had aircraft bearing a question mark. Frustratingly, I can’t remember why it was done though!
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