cdk Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Hello to all, one of my next Spitfire modeling object is the Mk IIc. This variant was used for air - sea rescue work. It was fitted with two small smoke bombs. The two flare chutes in the underside of the fuselage are modified to take a dinghy and a container with food. This info's are from a small Ducimus book called - Supermarine Spitfire, by Peter Moss. All I have found by a search in the WWW are some pictures from a Spit coded AQ-C. What I need are pictures or drawings that show the bombrack and the position of the flare chutes. The flares are a mystery to me. What is the reason for two big flares on a day fighter ? On the other hand I have looked all my books to show such flares on any other Spit variant with no success. Have someone a answer for me ? Claus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 IIRC Flares were used by Hurricanes (possibly nightintruders?) so it is not so strange that a fighter had them. Maybe used as markers for Air/Sea rescue ops? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Hello to all,one of my next Spitfire modeling object is the Mk IIc. This variant was used for air - sea rescue work. It was fitted with two small smoke bombs. The two flare chutes in the underside of the fuselage are modified to take a dinghy and a container with food. This info's are from a small Ducimus book called - Supermarine Spitfire, by Peter Moss. All I have found by a search in the WWW are some pictures from a Spit coded AQ-C. What I need are pictures or drawings that show the bombrack and the position of the flare chutes. The flares are a mystery to me. What is the reason for two big flares on a day fighter ? On the other hand I have looked all my books to show such flares on any other Spit variant with no success. Have someone a answer for me ? Claus I have a book with a picture of P8131 AQ-C showing canisters being loaded into chutes in the underside of fuselage just about at rear of wing root. It looks like there may be some hoop type attachments on the underside of the port wing that could possibly be the rack for the smoke bombs. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Aereo Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Both normal production Spitfire and Hurricane were equipped with signal flare chutes behind the cockpit, although they were seldom used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 There's a couple of pics of P8131 on this page if you scroll down a bit: http://www.luchtoorlog.be/spit_if.htm The one on the ground must have been taken at the same time as the pic I have in abook but from a slightly different angel Hope that helps. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) and here's a small version of the pic I found in one of my books....................... David Edited September 22, 2009 by David Womby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 What is the reason for two big flares on a day fighter ? On the other hand I have looked all my books to show such flares on any other Spit variant with no success. The ability to release signal flares was a standard part of most UK military aircraft specifications of the period. The main expected use was for the aeroplane to identify itself when approaching friendly forces, e.g. a convoy at sea, or the air defences at a port or other well defended feature. The idea was for the pilot to fire the 'colours of the day' to identify himself as 'friendly'. As far as I know it was not widely used. Presumably, advances in radio and other technologies like IFF made identification flares less relevant as time went on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) It's possible that they were also designed for use when the Spitfire was still considered as a possible nightfighter, after all overhead illumination might have worked. If it was, it was soon dispensed with, since one tube was deleted from the production line from 1-7-40, and doesn't seem to have been considered for the Mk.V. Everybody knows about the Very-style pyrotechnic flare, which came out of the fuselage spine, but I've only recently discovered that, from 14-6-40 originally, it was fitted just in front of the tail wheel, and fired downwards, only being moved to its upward-firing position on 7-4-41. Anyone seen a photo of a Spitfire with a small hole just in front of the tailwheel, because I certainly haven't? Edgar Edited September 22, 2009 by Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 IIRC, the Air-Sea Rescue Spitfires were unusual in that they carried yellow codes and had a 12" black stripe along the bottom of the fuselage from the spinner to the tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Bunker Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 The description of that photo in the IWM archives is: "Ground crew loading a dinghy into a Supermarine Spitfire Mark IIA, P8131 'AQ-C', of No. 276 Squadron RAF at Warmwell, Dorset, during an air/sea rescue exercise." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdk Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hello, first thank's for all the replys. The picture above is the one I have found in the WWW. I have also supposed that the thing under the wing left is a holder for the smoke bombs. But how does it look ? The ex flare chutes, I think, have a panel on a hinge wich opens to release the emergency packs. Know someone are the openings for the chutes stepped or parallel ? Claus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Edited September 23, 2009 by David Womby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airjiml2 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 What scheme would this Spitfire be? TSS, Day fighter, or Dark Earth/Dark Green over Sky? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdk Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hello, the modification took place in 1942. So I think the colours are the Day Fighter Scheme. Because the low contrast in the pic's abouve, I will go with Mixed Grey and not Medium Sea Grey. But I can be wrong. The temperate sea scheme will be a logical alternative. Claus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdk Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Sorry, I forgot these. There is a colour photograph of Spitfire Vb AB981 MY-T in Freeman's - The RAF of WW II in Colour. For me it shows clearly the Day Fighter Scheme. I belief there was no such a modification like the Mk IIc. So it was more a pure search aircraft. Claus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Aereo Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 It was not a research aircraft, the Mk.IIc was the previous denomination of the ASR Mk.II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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