rhagger

Thanks Steve, as you say no hint of serial or code is visible so it may or may not be FR242 . Thanks for the rest of the info and photo . I'll keep searching for other photos (that may never turn up). Rob

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C331256 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C331257 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C331258 noted to be photos taken at Kairouan, Tunisia by Laurence Le Guay, May 1943. 450 Sqn ORB states that Sgt Le Guay visited the Sqn and took photos of personnel and activities on 2nd May 1943 (page 658) F/O Jowett is listed as flying FR242 that day ( page 675), so if he flew the a/c in the photos, it is FR242. Can the code letter therefore be determined? Thanks for your thoughts @Buz , @Hornet133 and others. Note the difference in the Kangaroo cf that on the other a/c discussed above. Robert

Thanks Buz and Steve, the small 'step' between the 2 upper camo colours at the lip of the cowling intake on both FR853 and 'Pete' is what caught my eye. Thanks for identifying the serial and code letter of 'Pete'. Rob

The photo I have seen of FR853 is in an old book about Kittyhawks in Australian service and is the photo I think Peter refers to above (carrying centreline 250lb bomb). This photo on the AWM site of an unknown to me serialled a/c shows a virtually identical style of kangaroo and paint scheme on the forward fuselage as FR853. There is the same slight discrepancy in the line /border where the camouflage colours meet at the forward 'lip' of the cowl-(? repainted) . There may be as small difference in the position of the Roo and this with the 'Pete' marking is all I can see that differentiate the two. Rob https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C304180

Thanks Troy, appreciated. tinkering with and enlarging 'tiger 2' photo I can convince myself the last numeral at the edge of the fuselage band in the JS serial could be a '3' but difficult to make it a '6' so I would favour it being JS403 but goodness knows what has been seemingly painted over. I was not aware of the leading edge strips but there does seem to be a difference on 'tiger' outboard of the landing light cf inboard which could reflect this. I'll ponder your comments on colours. Hope you get a rest. cheers.

Hi Ed, Probably of little help but I am confident that the photo was not taken over the Murray in South Australia, and having spent too much time on Google maps following the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling rivers in Victoria and NSW I cannot identify a likely spot for the photo. I wonder if the structure which is similar in appearance to silos is in fact such, and note an apparent number of structures which may be power pylons nearby. Enlarging the photo and tinkering with contrast etc gave me the impression of a numeral below the leading edge of the tailplane consistent with a '5' or possibly '6' or '8' as the last numeral of a serial number. Nice exercise to ponder. Robert PS-noting your Snow White decals, and how do you seal them? I have exhausted my Testors decal bonder can and it seems it has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

(a year later) Here is the film showing the IAF Hurricane with tiger nose art starting about the 12 second mark. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060028528 JS ??? It appears to me that a rear fuselage band has been painted over. The a/c in the foreground is BN226. I can see no sign of a fuselage band on this. The underside of JS seems darker than BN226. Apologies if am covering old ground, but I wonder if JS has 'azure blue' undersides, BN light grey? Also, could it be that one is in TLS brown/green, the other in DFS grey/green uppers. Part 2 of the film, at 8 minutes 40 sec has footage of the starboard side of an apparent mud splattered a/c serial reading 'JS376', also I think with painted over fuselage band. I know not if this is the same a/c. Maybe all the 'JS' Hurricanes arrived with fuselage bands. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060028528 The film was produced on 4/7/44 so the footage predates that date. 1 Sqn IAF Operational Record Books don't record a/c serials prior to July. Hoping this is of interest, any comments welcome from @Troy Smith and others. Rob

Thank you Steve and Garry, It seems that AM-M is therefore A29-190 ( presuming all the photos in the AWM series noted relate to the same aircraft) Now onto the search for other images of the nose art. Rob

AWM photo OG0223 is one of a series which includes the photo of AM -M (OG0224 -dog chasing Japanese soldier/Tojo) being worked on at night [photos OG0223, 0224, 0225, 0226, 0227] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C227408 The stencil under the canopy front section reads 'P40K10-CU' 'Serial No 42-10104' -I think- I hope better eyes may be able to confirm or correct this. I can't however see this serial listed in the ADF serials website or Stewart Wilson's book The Spitfire, Mustang and Kittyhawk in Australian service. It should be possible to determine the RAAF A29 serial of the aircraft from this USAAF number.

Thanks Steve , that is very helpful. I take it you are not aware of any other photos of the dog chasing Tojo. regards, Rob and thanks Geoffrey, I think we hit submit at the same time just then.

A couple of RAAF P-40 photos - wondering if other pictures of the Dog chasing what I suspect to be a Japanese soldier, and clues to the serial and individual fuselage code letter exist.(77 Sqn P-40K, AM-?) Pluto is also on a 77 Sqn a/c AM-? and ? serial number. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C227411 https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/p-40k-decals.44414/ (apologies- need to scroll down the link to Jan 13 2016 post to see photo) Thanks for any replies , maybe one for @Magpie22 Regards, Rob

thank you Chris, most helpful. regards,Rob

thanks Bob

JR379 PR L is photographed in June 1944 pre D- Day. It has a 3 blade propellor and faired exhausts. 609 Sqn ORB notes its participation in operations following June 6th. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210566 Italeri's kit includes markings for two 609 Sqn aircraft wearing invasion stripes. The way the additional painting of those squadron code letters covered by the stripes are a little different between the two.There is photographic evidence of one ('M' ) but I have not seen a photo of 'J' https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/9/9/9/258999-48-instructions.pdf https://www.themodellingnews.com/2014/07/a-new-look-for-your-big-typhoon.html#google_vignette My question is to ask if any photos of JR379 PR L showing it carrying invasion stripes and the position of modified fuselage code letters are known to exist ? thanks Rob

Thanks Jack, RM687 would be an attractive option as a Mk XlV. I hadn't thought past Mk 9s.