Malta Spitfire Vs - 1942: Their colours and markings

[Calum]

What I have in my Collection. I guess that they are pre-Cauchi

AeroMaster Decals 48-597 Defenders of Malta Part I

Mk.Vc, BE124, U&2, 603 Sqdn, Operation Calendar, USS Wasp, 20

Apr 1942

Mk.Vb, BR329, GL&J [F/L Johnny Plagis], 185 Sqdn, Krendi, Malta,

June 1942

Mk.Vb, BR498, PP&H [ W/C Peter Prosser Hanks], Ta Qali, Malta

October 1942

Mk.Vc, EP829, T&N(t) [s/L John Lynch], 249 Sqdn, Malta 28 APR

1943.

AeroMaster Decals 48-598 Defenders of Malta Part II

Mk.Vc, BR246, B, Operation Calendar, USS Wasp, 1942

Mk.Vb, BR471, P&MK, 126 Sqdn, Ta Qali, early Summer 1942

Mk.Vb, EP706, T&L, 249 Sqdn Sqdn 1942 [George Beurling], 1942

Mk.Vc, JK879, T&B, 249 Sqdn, Malta [F7S Jack Hughes].

Rising Decals RD 48-013 Mediterranean Spitfires

Mk.Vb, EP829, T&N [sqd.ldr John J. Lynch], RCAF, 249 Sqdn,

Krendi, Malta, April 1943

Mk.Vb trop, EP706, T&L [Plt.Off. George Beurling], No. 249 Sqdn,

Takali, Malta, October 1942

Mk.Vc, BR498, PP&H [Wg.Cdrt. Peter Prosser Hanks], Luqa Wing,

Luqa, Malta, August/Sep 1942

Xtradecal X 48-093 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb

Mk.Vb, GN&B, AB262, 29 Sqdn, RAF Takali, March 1942 [Robert

McNair]

Mk.Vb, T&N, EP 829, Malta, April 1943 [s/LJoseph Lynch]

NPL

Thanks .I'll look some of these up

[Edgar]

I found this, in (yet another) file in Kew, last Saturday, and it looks to confuse the issue (of Calendar) even more. It seems to imply that (maybe) not all of the aircraft were painted before loading, and/or some (maybe) being done at Abbotsinch, and/or some (maybe) during the voyage; and, just to add to the party, were the improperly painted aircraft loaded on Wasp (probably, since they were the first to be available) or Eagle?

I've found another note, to the effect that the aircraft couldn't be transported to Wasp by lighter, due to tide rise and fall, so they had to try elsewhere and use Queen Mary trailers for transport, which necessitated removal of the wingtips.

There's also an interesting exchange of signals, regarding high altitude schemes, between Malta and Middle East, which adds a whole different dimension to the "blue Spitfires" riddle, but that's for later, methinks.

Edgar

P.S. Anyone know what "Operation Hansford" was, because I can find no trace?

[gingerbob]

Interesting, Edgar! In April '42 Spit Exports list, in addition to 8 to ME, "Miscelleneous": Newman (47)/Hansford (32). Don't know whether it is related, but it happens that in Feb and Mar, 16 each month went to "Med, including Gibraltar". Hmm, 16+16=32...

bob

[Edgar]

In the same file, there's a slightly moth-eaten Message, dated February (no year, as so often, but could be 1943,) which states that the spinners of 229 Squadron are yellow, while those of 249 are red.

Edgar