rossm Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Halley's Squadrons of the RAF has a photo of AD562 MY.V of 278 Sqdn captioned as a IIa but it looks VB ish to me, haven't checked vs the serial yet. Codes could be Sky or Yellow but there is an Anson MY.something also shown with codes that look red! Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted July 8, 2013 Author Share Posted July 8, 2013 One of the mods on the ASR Spitfires was a rack, or racks, for smoke marker bombs (some souces state under port wing only, others under both wings?) Are there any photos of these racks around? Perhaps attached to other aircraft, Defiants or Walruses? Google hasn't helped, and my references are light on in this area PR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 It's a pretty safe bet that these will have been the standard RAF Light Stores Carrier, as produced by Airfix for their Swordfish, unavoidably a bit blocky however. Someone was setting out to produce etched brass examples, which will be fiddly but more representative. I don't know how that has progressed - look back through the threads dealing with the Vildebeeste, perhaps? You'll find photographs of them under midwar biplanes, but also on Lysanders and under the fuselage of Blenheims aft of the bombbay. They were also fitted to the first desert Hurribombers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted July 8, 2013 Share Posted July 8, 2013 (edited) On 7/8/2013 at 11:08 PM, Graham Boak said: It's a pretty safe bet that these will have been the standard RAF Light Stores Carrier, as produced by Airfix for their Swordfish, unavoidably a bit blocky however. Someone was setting out to produce etched brass examples, which will be fiddly but more representative. I don't know how that has progressed - look back through the threads dealing with the Vildebeeste, perhaps? You'll find photographs of them under midwar biplanes, but also on Lysanders and under the fuselage of Blenheims aft of the bombbay. They were also fitted to the first desert Hurribombers. They did appear, produced by a small Czech or Polish concern (named Marabu something like Kara, IIRC?). The manufacturer posted photos of them in response to my post, now apparently no longer accessible, pointing out the aftermarket opportunity the necessarily rather chunky Swordfish items represented. They looked excellent but, with the number of minuscule pieces, I could hear the carpet monster licking his lips!  https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MUDM72011?result-token=bfr2B Edited November 20, 2020 by Seahawk To add name of manufacturer and link to product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 One of the mods on the ASR Spitfires was a rack, or racks, for smoke marker bombs (some souces state under port wing only, others under both wings?) Are there any photos of these racks around? Perhaps attached to other aircraft, Defiants or Walruses? Google hasn't helped, and my references are light on in this area PR Hi One rack carrying two small marker smoke bombs ",under the port wing root, inboard of the oil cooler". cheers Jerry some of the details can be made out in the photos http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire/Spitfire/images/Spitfire-FMkIIC-RAF-276-ASR-Sqn-AQ-C-P8131-Warmwell-Dorset-Apr-1943-01.jpg http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/spit_i/aqc2.jpg http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/spit_i/aqc.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Graham, Seahawk and Jerry, thank you, appreciate the leads I figured they were probably a standard item, but wasnt sure which aircraft would have carried them. I'll do a bit more searching, PR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 (edited) Hi all, I've added "Date to squadron" and some points of interest, as well as collected code information from other posts on the thread. Please note, as I stated before, that my deductions of IIa (which they are unless noted) versus IIb differ from other sources, but are the result of careful analysis. Note: Post 16 correctly says that Spit the Hist indicates P8325 was with 275 Sqn, but Air Britain gives it as 276. I think this is an error on Spit the Hist's part. bob 276S Type Date to Code Other comments P7366 05/05/1943 FNoU per link post 23 (prior squadron?) P7616 28/04/1943 DLoB, FNoT per link post 23 (prior squadrons?) P7732 (to Va?) 18/01/1944 P8013 14/09/1943 X per post 34 P8082 13/07/1943 P8131 30/04/1943 C per post 8 and photos P8253 13/01/1943 P8667 29/12/1943 AQoI post 10 P8674 29/12/1943 J per post 8 lost 8/6/43 P8727 (to Va?) 13/07/1943 AQoO post 10 (early civil ‘Josephine’) P8232 (IIb) 14/05/1943 shot down 31/8/43 P8265 (IIb) 29/12/1942 11/2/43 accident, w/o P8325 (IIb) 05/05/1943 P8521 (IIb) 16/05/1943 P8565 (IIb) 03/12/1942 H per post 8 P8584 (IIb) 10/05/1943 277S P7321 15/01/1943 lost or Cat.E 28/9/43 P7325 31/12/1943 P7359 04/05/1943 P7376 21/12/1942 P7490 09/01/1943 P7605 16/01/1943 G per post 8 P7628 19/04/1943 P7673 14/01/1943 P7734 18/12/1942 P7775 29/12/1943 P7818 30/01/1943 P7836 20/03/1943 to 57OTU 27/3 P7838 21/12/1942 P7858 24/01/1943 P7889 24/01/1943 to 61OTU 22/2 P7911 03/05/1943 P7915 10/01/1943 to 53OTU 14/1? P7917 14/01/1944 P7918 29/01/1943 to 57OTU 1/2 P7994 09/02/1943 FTR 25/11/43 P8020 14/09/1943 P8022 22/12/1942 P8030 11/02/1943 P8032 02/02/1943 P8072 21/07/1943 P8079 02/02/1943 P8096 09/04/1943 P8179 31/01/1943 BAoT per post 6 to FLS 13/3 P8203 29/12/1942 P8261 29/12/1942 P8271 07/01/1943 to 53OTU 14/1? P8274 11/01/1943 2 accidents, then to 53OTU (date unknown) P8375 20/12/1942 P8431 14/01/1943 to 57OTU 1/2? P8432 31/12/1943 to RAF Comm Flt Heston 11/2/44 P8441 28/01/1943 R per post 8 P8479 09/01/1943 damaged 23/4/43 P8322 (IIb) 31/3/43? P8324 (IIb to Vb) 10/02/1944 P8509 (IIb) 21/12/1942 1/4/43 dam, but repaired on site? Edited July 10, 2013 by gingerbob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Nice work Bob! Well done, and thank you PR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Hi Another oddity from my notes, AQ-X , 8013 , I havent got anymore info than this, anyone able to match the serial ? cheers Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafwaffe Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 According to AB P1000-P9999 P8013 276 Sqn SOC 25.7.44 agrees with airhistory.org.uk: P8013 276S 14-9-1943 AST CB 28-5-1944 recat E 25-7- 1944 So that gives us spitfire IIa P8013 'AQ-X' Regards, Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Hi Alex, Thanks,for the info, I will update my files Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafwaffe Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Not a problem! Hopefully with the brilliant teamwork we're seeing here more may yet be revealed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMC33 Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 I've been researching Dad's flying record from his log with particular reference to his Spitfire hours. So I was very excited to pick up this thread on 277 SQN where Dad spent most of the war ending up as AOC at Shoreham until the end of 1944 when he transferred to Typhoons on 184 SQN. I have a photo of him in the cockpit of BA-G and was keen to identify the Spit. Many thanks for solving the mystery and identifying it as Mk 11c P7605. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafwaffe Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 (edited) Glad there's some links to members families and certainly glad this thread's still around wonder if there's been any more ASR spitfires identified since 2013... Edited August 12, 2016 by Rafwaffe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orso Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) I was looking for information about the ASR Spitfires and was recommended this thread. It is great. I tried to collect it all in a list and got this:  P7321   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7325   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7359   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7366   276 Sqn   Mk.IIa         P7376   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7490   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7605   277 Sqn   Mk.II   BA-G      P7616   276 Sqn            P7628   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7673   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7732   276 Sqn   Mk.II         (to Va?) P7734   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7775   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7818   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7836   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7838   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7858   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7889   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7911   277 Sqn            P7915   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7917   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7918   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P7994   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8013   276 Sqn   Mk.IIa   AQ-X      P8020   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8022   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8030   277 Sqn   Mk.IIa         P8032   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8072   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8079   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8082    276 Sqn   Mk.II         P8096   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8131   276 Sqn   Mk.IIa   AQ-C      P8179   277 Sqn   Mk.IIa   BA-T      R6719 ??????????????? P8203   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8232   276 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8253   276 Sqn   Mk.II         P8261   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8265   276 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8271   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8274   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8322   277 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8324   277 Sqn   Mk.IIb         (IIb to Vb) P8325   276 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8375   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8431   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8432   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8441   277 Sqn  Mk.II    BA-R      P8479   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8509   277 Sqn   Mk.II         P8521   276 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8565   276 Sqn  Mk.IIb   AQ-H      Vb ??? P8584   276 Sqn   Mk.IIb         P8667   276 Sqn   Mk.II   AQ-I      P8674   276 Sqn  Mk.IIc   AQ-J      P8705   277 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-C      P8727   276 Sqn   Mk.Vb   AQ-O   EN841   (con to MkV, then to IIC) (to Va?)        276 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-E   BL379           276 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-I   BL933           276 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-L   BM474           277 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-U   BL591          277 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-Z   AD366          277 Sqn   Mk.Vb   BA-Z   BM570           278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-N  W3948           278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-P   R6965   Mk.Ia ???        278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-Q  BL376           278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-T  AB981          278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-U  W3893           278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-V  AD562        278 Sqn   Mk.Vb   MY-Y  BM418           275 Sqn   Mk.Vb        BL294          275 Sqn   Mk.Vb        BM448          276 Sqn   Mk.Vb        BL495          276 Sqn   Mk.Vb        BM414    There are some question marks and the entries at the end should fit in with te P-numbers i guess or were they outside this number series?. I hope it will be readable as the forum format doesn't seem to like lists Edited October 14, 2017 by Orso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Barclay-Jay Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 A bit of a rebirth of this subject.  Im looking for codes of Spitfire VB W3330 and i have its history all the way through to:   275 Squadron 4.8 44  and  278 Squadron 18.8.44  she was repaired on base on 11.6.44  she was the presentation Spitfire 'VECTIS' to 92 Squadron in July 1941 followed by 611 squadron 242 Squadron 222 Squadron 65 Squadron 130 Squadron 349 Squadron   I'd be really interested in any codes from QJ until her ASR Roles      Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 4 hours ago, Kevin Barclay-Jay said: A bit of a rebirth of this subject.  Im looking for codes of Spitfire VB W3330 and i have its history all the way through to:   275 Squadron 4.8 44  and  278 Squadron 18.8.44  she was repaired on base on 11.6.44  she was the presentation Spitfire 'VECTIS' to 92 Squadron in July 1941 followed by 611 squadron 242 Squadron 222 Squadron 65 Squadron 130 Squadron 349 Squadron   I'd be really interested in any codes from QJ until her ASR Roles       Unfortunately no code details in 'Gifts of War' but there is a photo with the name 'Vectis' (Roman name for the Isle of Wight) in script over a map of the Isle of Wight. (p. 317)   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Barclay-Jay Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 I'm from the Isle of Wight and my investigation stems from an article I am writing.  Is there a context to the picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted November 20, 2020 Author Share Posted November 20, 2020 6 hours ago, Kevin Barclay-Jay said: I'm from the Isle of Wight and my investigation stems from an article I am writing.  Is there a context to the picture? Nothing noted in the caption with the picture, but details from the entry state that the Mk Vb was presented from a donation of 6,285 pounds by the Isle of Wight Spitfire Fund in November 1940, and was taken on charge at No. 8 Mtce Unit at Little Rissington on 28 May 1941. Looks like you may have the rest of the info, although there is reference to Sgt J O Carpenter (92 Sqn) claiming a Bf 109E probably destroyed near Bailleul on 19 July, and being damaged on 21 August while being flown by P/O P L Archer and sent to Air Services Training at Hamble on 23 August for repair. A further note that it was damaged on 16 March 1942 when it struck a totem pole while being flown by Sgt C L B Janes on approach to landing returning from a scramble, and was repaired on site. Perhaps a further entry worth mentioning is that while serving with 278 Sqn, it was damaged on 7 June 1944 when W/O J H Beattie overshot landing at Warmwell and the undercarriage collapsed; it was subsequently repaired on site. It was ultimately struck off charge on 20 February 1945 - a very long service life with numerous episodes of repair.  HTH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Barclay-Jay Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 That expands stuff that I found a lot.. As a hiding to nothing I think I've identified 16 of the QJ codes with 8 series unallocated.. But of course some of those might be recoded on new planes.. A fair few are upgraded MK 1bs  I might just have to guess avoiding the ones I know.  It also had a fuel system upgrade at Vickers before going to an ASR squadron. They were doing fuel system upgrades to Seafires at the time, so it may have been a similar upgrade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Barclay-Jay Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 Any chance you can scan pg 317. The book is on Amazon for £177!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 39 minutes ago, Kevin Barclay-Jay said: It also had a fuel system upgrade at Vickers before going to an ASR squadron. Â Without checking a particular case, this is likely to be modification to be able to use the slipper tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 (edited) Hi   thread on the basta fuel system mod   https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234983425-spitfire-basta-mod-what-exactly-was-it/   cheers  jerry Edited November 20, 2020 by brewerjerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Roberts Posted November 20, 2020 Author Share Posted November 20, 2020 4 hours ago, Kevin Barclay-Jay said: Any chance you can scan pg 317. The book is on Amazon for £177!!!  PM sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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