Canadian Tempest was a Mk.VI

But here are reported about another Tempest’s version – Mk.VI (see below):

http://www.canadianwings.com/Aircraft/aircraftDetail.php?TEMPEST-30

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/hst/tempest-eng.asp

Where is truth ?

Flyer.

Tempest NV999, the aircraft used bythe WEE, was the fourth production Mk.VI. Externally similar to the Mk,V except for the additional radiators in the inboard leading edges of the wings and the tropical air filter beneath the centre-section, immediately aft of the radiator fairing ‘chin’.
This was the only Tempest in Canada.

MK392 – C or E wing?

I know this is not specific – and the Winco’s kite may be a special case – but the 2nd TAF Orders of Battle show which Wings were equipped with ‘Spit.IX LF 0.5’. Neither of Johnson’s Wings (No 144 which was disbanded in July, nor No 127 to which he subsequently transferred) show as having anything but standard LF.IXs. Eventually, 127 wing re-equipped with Spitfire LF.XVIs in October 1944.

Johnson may have been trialling the 0.5 of course, or just thought he’d jump the gun (sorry) in the re-equipment programme.

New Spits for old?

That’s very interesting Cranswick – thanks. Is there any indication of how the change was to take place? I’m wondering if the aircraft were converted on site, at an RSU or exchanged for different aircraft.

Original plans were for 50 modification sets (mod 1029) to be installed in the field but at the end of December 1943 this was changed to 60 sets to be incorporated in new Spits at Castle Bromwich under ‘high priority special arrangements’. So it looks like the re-equipment came about via exchange for new aircraft.

Volunteer required to analyse the serials in 485, 222 and 349 ORBs (that was the planned order) and the corresponding Form 78s ….

Yes, Wings Palette will show you much of what is ‘out there’ … but does no checks for accuracy. The colour artwork in the ‘Profile’ series from the 60s, particularly the earlier issues, has many inaccuracies. In the case of the Typhoon, I know for a fact that the 5-view painting of TP-F, still appearing on decal sheets after 60 years, was based on “notes (allegedly) from the pilot” – no photos.

In the same publication there is much amiss with the Typhoons illustrated in colour. The most dubious example being the ‘target-tug’; having trawled through all available records and spoken to former instructors and pupils of 56 OTU there has been not the slightest trace of such a beast. It certainly was not SW500, if it did exist, as that airframe was allocated to 84 GSU as a training aircraft and carried the code ’49’; by August 1945 it was in store at 51 MU where it was scrapped in March 1946. As a Typhoon from the last production order SW500 had the later sliding hood, not the car-door type shown in the illustration.

The white/tufted Typhoon seems to have more of a whiff of reality, though no photos have turned up. The caption (or the drawing) must be incorrect however as Typhoons with cannon and the car-door canopy with transparent rear section were in service until 1942 and Typhoon underwing identity stripes were not seen until December 1942. Typhoons were not frequently transferred between RAE and A&AEE but there was one, R7617, which did undertake trials at both units and which include both Carbon Monoxide tests and ‘rudder handling’ (as well as many other and varied tests).

This cockpit section just gets better and better. Fantastic work, Windhover, congratulations.

As for the colour in the gunbays – there are two wartime colour images of Typhoons with the gunboat access panels open; one is mid-43 the other early 1945. Both show the strengthening ribs in silver (and one shows the blocks which close the ammo boxes mentioned by windhover also in silver) but the flat panels between are all in light tan or, in the 1945 example some are in a yellow ochre.

I have seen colour photos of the inside of the gunbays on MN235. They appeared unrestored and the light tan/yellow ochre colour seems to be due to a lining of some sort which also covers front and rear walls, outer sides and floor of the gunbay. Colour, which varied slightly from panel to panel, was mid-tan, sometimes with an orange hue. Anyone any ideas on the type and purpose of this material? Ammo boxes looked like unpainted aluminium.

As for the cockpit colours, I would not dispute the silver tubing but certainly by mid-1943 the inside of the cockpit doors and interior walls above the bottom of the door were painted black – there are several photos of ‘car-door’ Typhoons with the starboard door open that clearly show this. There are also photos of Gloster-built Typhoons with door interiors in an unknown hue, definitely not silver; my guess would be ‘cockpit grey-green’. Were there any surviving cockpit outer skin panels or doors with the example under restoration?

Tristar above your head…Aircraft Illustrated cover pic,target tug Canberra above it also cover same mag, Aircraft Illustrated had a colour cover and at least a two sided colour spead in issues and unlike todays mags often arranged them two per page.

I recognise the Comper Swift and the Cherokee (?) next to it, both as cover shots from Aircraft Illustrated c. Mid 60s early 70s. They’re all in my garage, free to collect. Any takers? I’m near Lymington.

Major Inspection and Major Repair I believe.

It’s worth mentioning that Fry’s maternal ancestors were European Jews, some of whom perished in the Holocaust, so he might not have the take on it that some might imagine…

Adrian

Dammit, and I was just about to sell them my idea for the title. ‘Bombusters’ … Or something like that.