X Trapnel Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 Does anyone have any strongly held opinions about whether 145 squadron Spitfire Mk IXs in North Africa had yellow ID stripes on the leading edge of their wings? I haven't been able to find anything definitive on this - some drawings and models I've seen show them and some don't. The well-known photos of these aircraft don't offer a clear answer as far as I can see. One photo of ZX*6 shows the leading edge, but to me it's ambiguous whether the stripe is there. Any thoughts on this from the Britmodller Braintrust would be much appreciated. X Trapnel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 afair the yellow leading edge was a Northern Europe ID marking and not applicable to the Med or Far East 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 This may be of help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) Here is a thread from Polish modeller forum where on some photos of Polish Fighting Team (a part of 145 Sq) the yellow leading edges is seen http://pwm.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=267172 Cheers J-W Edited April 12, 2017 by JWM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFlint Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 thank you for that link , JWM ! there are some good photos there, one I would like to colorize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.SAUNDERS Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 hi All, I have a strong thought that the RAAF (UK) Squadron 453 Spitfires did'nt sport the Yellow Wing Leadin' Edges either when studying Mk,IXe FU F EN522 W/C John Ratten cheery " Easter Modellin' "mumbas ! Geoff SAUNDERS Melbourne , AUSTRALIA 3156 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Jones Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 According to the then current AMO's covering aircraft markings, the yellow leading edges , sky tail band and spinner were only to be applied to fighters of " Fighter command , day fighters at home ". Therefore , I would not expect them to be seen on fighters in the Middle east or Far east ,with the possible exception of aircraft that might have been transferred from Fighter Command without being repainted. Andrew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilneBay Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 8 hours ago, JWM said: Here is a thread from Polish modeller forum where on some photos of Polish Fighting Team (a part of 145 Sq) the yellow leading edges is seen http://pwm.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=267172 Cheers J-W I don't see yellow leading edges in the photos at all, some light tricks perhaps. One shows what appears to be a repainted leading edge but no trace of yellow and the profiles of the same aircraft differ, one has it and one doesn't. So I would say no yellow leading edges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 6 hours ago, G.E.SAUNDERS said: hi All, I have a strong thought that the RAAF (UK) Squadron 453 Spitfires did'nt sport the Yellow Wing Leadin' Edges either when studying Mk,IXe FU F EN522 W/C John Ratten cheery " Easter Modellin' "mumbas ! Geoff SAUNDERS Melbourne , AUSTRALIA 3156 For the record, EN522 was not a Mk.IXe. It was an early Mk.IX, converted from a Mk.V at Rolls Royce Hucknall. It had the early Supermarine produced cowling with a curve at the rear to clear the intercooler. Cheers, Peter M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 7 hours ago, MilneBay said: 15 hours ago, JWM said: Here is a thread from Polish modeller forum where on some photos of Polish Fighting Team (a part of 145 Sq) the yellow leading edges is seen http://pwm.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=267172 Cheers J-W I don't see yellow leading edges in the photos at all, some light tricks perhaps. One shows what appears to be a repainted leading edge but no trace of yellow and the profiles of the same aircraft differ, one has it and one doesn't. So I would say no yellow leading edges. At least on those two photos "something like a other colour part of leading edge" can be seen: Ok one of those photo is BW, but second not. Indeed the edge is not fresh yellow. The yellow ring on roundel is also not very bright as well - certainly not that much yellow as the flowers are... Maybe it is overpainted edge - but the colour is neither Dark Earth nor Middle Stone. But even it is overpainted with some not yellow brown shade - there was a period when it was yellow, isn't? Cheers J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilneBay Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 I see that as just a fresh camo overpaint - not expressly indicative of ever having been yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 Not just a bit of a coincidence. but remarkably so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnAndersen Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 I'd say that the picture is colourised. Note the difference of the red in the roundel and the fin flash. The .303 ports also has black dope? Bottom line: there is evidence of painting of the leading edge, consistent with the yellow leading edge of ADGB, but what exactly it is, is open for guesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonar Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 3 hours ago, FinnAndersen said: Bottom line: there is evidence of painting of the leading edge, consistent with the yellow leading edge of ADGB, but what exactly it is, is open for guesses. If that is an over painted leading edge stripe, then it was incorrectly applied in the first place, extending to nowhere near the wing tip. Just saying 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Thomas Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 9 hours ago, FinnAndersen said: I'd say that the picture is colourised. Note the difference of the red in the roundel and the fin flash. The .303 ports also has black dope? Bottom line: there is evidence of painting of the leading edge, consistent with the yellow leading edge of ADGB, but what exactly it is, is open for guesses. It is not colourised. This image is taken from an original Imperial War Museum colour transparency. CT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnAndersen Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 (edited) 8 hours ago, Chris Thomas said: It is not colourised. This image is taken from an original Imperial War Museum colour transparency. CT Oops... On the other hand, this confirms that the color is not yellow. And more interestingly, isn't it unlikely that the photographer only took one photo, i.e. other photos exists that would collaborate the story? /Finn Edited April 15, 2017 by FinnAndersen misspelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Some Spitfires in North Africa did, some didn't. 40 Squadron SAAF Spitfire Vb with yellow leading edge stripes. COLLABORATION BETWEEN ROYAL AIR FORCE SPITFIRES AND THE EIGHTH ARMY DURING THE TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN, SPRING 1943. © IWM (TR 1020)IWM Non Commercial Licence 417 Squadron RCAF Spitfire Vcs with no leading edge stripe. (The photo above is also a 417 Squadron aircraft.) THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE IN TUNISIA, MAY 1943. © IWM (TR 861)IWM Non Commercial Licence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Some P-40s definitely had the yellow leading edges. Again, this is an original colour image - 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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