Hawker Typhoon IB RB 478 ZH-Q

[Andre B]

Hello,

 

Recently I got the gift set with Airfix Hawker Typhoon IB in 1/72 (A55208). It is marked RB 478 and said to be from No. 266 Squadron, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Holland and Germany April/May 1944 (!?). Concerning markings there are no sky band on the rear fuselage. What was the reason for 2nd TAF to "paint out" the sky band and when did they do it? Had the aitcrafts from 2nd TAF the sky band during 1944 or was it something that was overpainted together with the D-day markings? And what was the story with the upper wings type C.1 roundels? Better visibility as they mostly where flying low?

Cheers / André 

https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/hawker-typhoon-ib-starter-set-1-72.html

[Doc72]

I have read somewhere that the Sky fuselage bands and spinners were abandonned some time after D-Day to improve camouflage. When the fighters of 2nd TAF were based on airfields on the continent, attacks by the Luftwaffe on these airfields were seen as a risk (cf. Operation Bodenplatte later). Therefore, aircraft without the Sky bands and spinners were less conspicious on the ground.

The new roundels were apparently introduced because the Americans showed a tendency to consider any aircraft in green/grey as German and fire at it. Funny, how camouflage and IFF often are conflicting requierments with air forces always having to find a new compromise between them.

[Troy Smith]

date should by April/may 1945

 

Yes,the  2nd TAF removed the  sky bands and spinners at start Jan 45, and introduced the C1 uppers,  apparently due to 'friendly fire' incidents with the USAAF,   it has been postulated the sky band looked liked the Luftwaffe reich defense band.

 

The C1 upper were sometime reduced in size to 36 inch (as opposed to 50)  and were also applied  underwing

 

see photo captions here

 

HTH

T

 

 

 

[Andre B]

Interesting that they also removed the yellow wing stripes. That for sure together with C.1 roundels, black spinner an no sky band made an different looking aircraft.
Thanks for information.

Cheers / André

 

[Chris Thomas]

Hi André

The information in the photo caption re the yellow wing stripes (presumably they mean the leading edge stripes) is incorrect. These stripes were retained on 2nd TAF and ADGB fighters until after hostilities ceased and are visible in many photos taken in 1945.

 

There was an instruction dated 17 August 1944 to remove the stripes from ADGB aircraft engaged in anti-Diver operations but this was short-lived as the campaign was nearly over.  It was ordered when it was discovered that poorly painted or maintained stripes were causing a significant loss of speed.

Chris