Hornet133

Santiago, One comment - '33 Macchi MC 205 Veltro Done CV V450 RAAF Squadron Catania airfield, Sicily (Italy) ' was used by 3 Sqn RAAF not 450 RAAF. Steve Mackenzie

RAF policy at the time was for the entire spinner to be 'Sky' colour as an I.D marking along with the Sky fuselage band. However it was not unknown for some units to use something different (but it was unauthorised and rare). The following image shows PR-F to have base of the cone red & two thirds 'Sky' (not White in my interpretation). https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/typhoon/typhoon-ib-dn406-609-manston/. Two other airframes visible have the same so that was likely the colours used by the Sqn at that point in time. Same colours in this image https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1003180301840887&set=a.461113822714207&id=100064467801687. More images here of both PR-F and PR-D in those spinner colours here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235070579-early-hawker-typhoon-609-sdn-with-bombs/ but note the last image on the page shows PR-D with an all 'Sky' spinner. Photos of PR-G show it with the standard all 'Sky' spinner. Ignore the claims of Yellow caused by someone with little knowledge interpreting the image incorrectly and of course a mass of others have plagiarised (copied) that. HTH Steve Mackenzie Steve Mackenzie

What you see under the wing reads '29' , so an incomplete serial.

The well known series of photos of airframes in that scheme is on Asisbiz. See https://asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-109F/JG3/pages/Messerschmitt-Bf-109F4-9.JG3-Yellow-4-Eberhard-von-Boremski-WNr-13220-Zhuguyev-Russia-May-1942-03.html and subsequent images. As GRM noted another batch of these airframes with modified desert schemes went to JG5 at Petsamo Finland.

As said above the only two images of L9044 (supplied by my brother and myself for the Osprey 'Gladiator Aces' book), acquired by us through our research with a former 3 Sqn RAAF member do not show the prop. L9044 which is a Egyptian Air Force serial was built as Gladiator ll N5889 as part of an Egyptian order for 10 Gladiators, and later reclaimed by the RAF for their use. 3 Sqn RAAF used 3 airframes marked with 'L' serials, L8008, L8009 and L9044, all officially Mk.IIs. I have an image of L8008 which clearly shows it fitted with a two blade prop. From this and the large number of 'N' serialed examples with 2 blade props as noted by Peter M, my best assumption would be that L9044 most likely had a 2 blade propeller unit.

For what it's worth - IWM image CH10730 shows (reportedly, as one cannot see many markings from this angle) L4105/D of 455 Sqn on 2 August. And there is no ASV aerials on the nose that I can see. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Hampden_-_Leuchars_-_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Coastal_Command_CH10730.jpg Link to image on Wikipedia so I don't have to upload to my own webspace. Steve Mackenzie

The question about the racks on RAAF Beavers is a good one. There are quite a few images of racks fitted but in use is much rarer. The 1st image here is likely taken in Melbourne so it does not really count. But this 2nd one does as it is clearly down south, inland from Mawson according to my info. Steve Mackenzie

http://adf-serials.com/newsletter/ADF Telegraph Vol 10 Issue 1 Autumn 2020 Final.pdf should get you there

Yes all P-40Es had them (can be VERY hard to see in photos). One wire to each wing, inboard of the wingtip join and one to the spine.

A quick google turned up this page which may be of interest. Some great pics there I did not have. https://ussindianapolis.activeboard.com/t46369263/some-pictures-from-vpb-152-and-the-crew-that-found-the-india/ Steve Mackenzie

In Jochen Prien's history of the Luftwaffe single engined fighter force Vol 6/1, there is a series of images of Molders returning from his historic mission where he scored vics 100 + 101. The airframe was marked as a Stab JG51 machine '<<- + -' as per the painting here 'https://fineartamerica.com/featured/werner-molders-messerschmitt-bf-109-white-background-craig-tinder.html?product=poster' His victories were added to the Port rudder (there is nothing to Starboard) no doubt for propaganda photos. I will not post scans here for copyright reasons. Search for images on google, some of the images are available there. Remember anything marked <-+- is not the correct airframe. BTW one final thing, no where in the book that I can see do they quote the W.Nr of this Stab airframe and it is not readable on the photos. HTH Steve Mackenzie

OTU = Operational Training Unit. Standard RAF term, the RAAF followed RAF practice closely. That would have been 5 OTU which did twin engined attack training with Beaufighters and later DH Mosquitos.

From here down under in Oz, Britmodeller seems to be working pretty flawlessly. Had one '500' error only since Mike did his fixes. I now realise that my major problems before would have been because I had my VPN setup for servers in the USA which is where some sort of major problem was occurring.

'If' A-1(F) is an official designation, a fighter variant based on the A-1 (which was later redesignated as the 'C' series). Not surprising there is no mention by Green as his books are very old and not complete.

Mike, I came back and noticed you asked me to try setting my VPN to UK. Did that and straight in. Seems to be working now. Will post again if I have further problems over the next few days. Steve Mackenzie