UK1 P9385 Supermarine SpitfireMkIC 1940orLater.jpg

[Joseph Testagrose]

[Alan Erskine[_4_]]

On 2/06/2011 5:25 AM, Joseph Testagrose wrote:


I've always wondered about this.

On all WWII movies about the Battle of Britain, the aircraft are all
gleaming clean. Even the one's waiting for maintenance and being
canabalised for parts....

This photo is the only one I've ever seen to date that shows how they'd
really look - dirty and slightly rough around the edges.

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Yes, but how do you explain the non-standard markings? No regular sqdn
codes, non-standard fin tricolor, strange apparently single color topside,
etc.? And what's with the bubble on the cockpit hood? Any chance this is a
french a/c? It looks like an MS-406 in the background behind the Spit's
tail, next to what looks like the nose of a Dragon Rapide. An intriguing
shot, any ideas?

Brian

[Ramsman]

On 02/06/2011 09:59, wrote:
> Yes, but how do you explain the non-standard markings? No regular sqdn
> codes, non-standard fin tricolor, strange apparently single color topside,
> etc.? And what's with the bubble on the cockpit hood? Any chance this is a
> french a/c? It looks like an MS-406 in the background behind the Spit's
> tail, next to what looks like the nose of a Dragon Rapide. An intriguing
> shot, any ideas?
>
> Brian

Forget the French connection. It's a PR version: blisters in the canopy,
no armoured windscreen. There were several variations of early PR
Spitfires, some were even armed. The colour is possibly PRU pink but it
could be one of various schemes, it's difficult to see what the
undersurface colour is. The 76 is probably a PRU ID, rather than a
squadron code. That style of fin flash was carried by some aircraft.

Can't provide any more details, too many Spitfire books, too little time!

GIYF.

--
Peter

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Thanks. PRU did cross my mind: apparently no guns, and the canopy blisters,
plus what appear to be obvious modifications/new acess hatches for cameras
below the fuselage roundel and the "76." The dirty exhaust over PRU pink
would make for a fabulous model: too bad the shot's not in color!

Thanks for your thoughts.

Brian

[Netko]

On Thu, 2 Jun 2011 17:29:09 +0100, wrote
(in article >):

> Thanks. PRU did cross my mind: apparently no guns, and the canopy blisters,
> plus what appear to be obvious modifications/new acess hatches for cameras
> below the fuselage roundel and the "76." The dirty exhaust over PRU pink
> would make for a fabulous model: too bad the shot's not in color!

I too was intrigued by the 76 code and went looking about to see what was out
there.

I couldn't find any explanation of the numerical code but, reportedly, the
aircraft belonged to No 8 OTU and was more a dirty white or off-white colour.
And, if it's modelling you want to do, have a look at:

<http://www.theaviationworkshop.co.uk/ma131-pr-spitfires-part-1-early-merlin-
engine-schemes-p-148.html>

Or, if that URL is too long for anyone, try:

<http://tinyurl.com/3onqaj5>

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Thanks!! I'm sorely tempted, in 1/48. Here's one I did a while back.

Brian

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