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FAA Spitfire Mk.Ia or IIa Images wanted


Bruce Archer

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Hi!

   I used to work in a Hobby Store in NJ, and when the distributor had a sale on Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk.I and MK.Vb kits, I bought quite a few. Now I am looking for scheme other than the run of the mill Fighter Command schemes and wish to do a FAA scheme.

 

   I do know the Royal Navy received a number of  Spitfire Mk.Ia, IIa and Vb aircraft, but images of these are lacking, in my sources anyway. So does anyone have some images of these to share?

 

Bruce

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B/W photo on p.380 of Sturtivant's FAA Aircraft 1939-45 shows the starboard sides of 2 759 Sq Spitfire I s escorting a captured Fw 190A: I think that dates the photo to some time in 1943.  Photo a bit murky and hindered by strong shadows.  Type C fuselage and fin markings, Type B overwing, on Y2W at least.  ROYAL NAVY titles in 4" Black characters visible on both, serials probably the same size and colour but photo too murky to tell.  No Sky fuselage band and low contrast suggest a repaint in TSS.

 

L1096 Y2-W Pointier spinner.

R7193 Y1-M Prop looks like the one I recall from your issue of the AX kit.

 

The codes will have been in Yellow.

 

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I recall this photo from elsewhere in slightly larger form but not the serials.  I had thought of these as one Mk.I and one Mk.V, so possibly the R serial had been re-engined?  STH doesn't say so, although there were a number of Mk.Vs built as such with serials before and after it.  It is recorded as being at the RNDA Yeovilton from 10.9.42 until going to Canada July 1943 where a 36" camera was fitted, returning to the UK December 1944.  However the L serial one was converted to a Mk.V and at Yeovilton from 29.4.42.    FAA Aircraft is more descriptive, having R7193 as Y1M 1-6.43 and 2.44-9.44, L1096 being Y2W 12.43-11.44, which suggests a 1944 photo.  I think this visit/incident is described in one of "Winkle" Brown's writings, as he was in the Fw, and he is being escorted back to Boscombe to avoid "friendly fire". 

 

I agree with the comments on the likely colour scheme.

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20 hours ago, Graham Boak said:

I recall this photo from elsewhere in slightly larger form but not the serials.  I had thought of these as one Mk.I and one Mk.V, so possibly the R serial had been re-engined?  STH doesn't say so, although there were a number of Mk.Vs built as such with serials before and after it.  It is recorded as being at the RNDA Yeovilton from 10.9.42 until going to Canada July 1943 where a 36" camera was fitted, returning to the UK December 1944.  However the L serial one was converted to a Mk.V and at Yeovilton from 29.4.42.    FAA Aircraft is more descriptive, having R7193 as Y1M 1-6.43 and 2.44-9.44, L1096 being Y2W 12.43-11.44, which suggests a 1944 photo.  I think this visit/incident is described in one of "Winkle" Brown's writings, as he was in the Fw, and he is being escorted back to Boscombe to avoid "friendly fire". 

 

I agree with the comments on the likely colour scheme.

Mea culpa.  FAA Aircraft does indeed record L1096 as a Mark Va, which accords with the pointier, Mk.V type spinner visible in the photo.   Can't argue with the 1944 date either: the "I think" in my post, being interpreted, means "I'm too lazy to check it out."  NB in both cases the serial comes from the caption: it cannot be read off the photo.

 

I note OP was interested in FAA Spitfire Vbs as well.  From same page of the same book:

  • Spitfire Vb BL238 of 899 Sq, Ballykelly.  Hooked Mk Vb.  High contrast camouflage with Sky band so probably Day Fighter Scheme.  Type C markings, no codes.  8" serial with no obvious ROYAL NAVY titles. 
  • Sprifire Vb AB929 S1-K (starboard side presentation) of 719 Sq, St Merryn, September 1944.  Colours and markings as above.
  • Spitfire Vb BL818 of 768 Sq, Abbotsinch, aboard HMS Ravager 10/8/44.  Hooked Mk Vb.  Low contrast camouflage and no Sky band so probably in Temperate Sea Scheme.  No codes
Edited by Seahawk
Correction of error in serial number. Clarification that 2 of the Vbs were hooked.
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R7193 was never in Canada.  My guess it is was a clerical error in assembling the book, as R7143 certainly was in Canada.

 

Jim

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13 hours ago, Work In Progress said:

There's one here but it's just in standard RAF Day Fighter Scheme with the addition of ROYAL NAVY in four-inch black lettering over the normal eight-inch serial.

 

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-royal-navy-fleet-air-arm-supermarine-spitfire-mkia-48508892.html

 

There is a less watermarked version on the IWM site, along with a few other pics from the same time

mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs GROUND CREW WORKING ON FLEET AIR ARM AIRCRAFT AT RNAS YEOVILTON, SEPTEMBER 1943. © IWM (TR 1275) IWM Non Commercial License

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4 hours ago, Seahawk said:

Mea culpa.  FAA Aircraft does indeed record L1096 as a Mark Va, which accords with the pointier, Mk.V type spinner visible in the photo.   Can't argue with the 1944 date either: the "I think" in my post, being interpreted, means "I'm too lazy to check it out."  NB in both cases the serial comes from the caption: it cannot be read off the photo.

 

I note OP was interested in FAA Spitfire Vbs as well.  From same page of the same book:

  • Spitfire Vb BL238 of 899 Sq, Ballykelly.  High contrast camouflage with Sky band so probably Day Fighter Scheme.  Type C markings, no codes.  8" serial with no obvious ROYAL NAVY titles.
  • Sprifire Vb AB729 S1-K (starboard side presentation) of 719 Sq, St Merryn, September 1944.  Colours and markings as above.
  • Spitfire Vb BL818 of 768 Sq, Abbotsinch, aboard HMS Ravager 10/8/44.  Low contrast camouflage and no Sky band so probably in Temperate Sea Scheme.  No codes

According to allspitfirepilots this should be AB929.

 

I've found the picture of BL818 and added it to my todo list, which is getting longer by the day...

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On pages 374 to 382 of Air Britain book, Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945 listed up hundreds of Spitfires with 8 photos including Hooked Spitfires.

https://www.amazon.com/Fleet-Air-Aircraft-1939-1945/dp/0851302327/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Fleet+Air+Arm+Aircraft+1939+to+1945&qid=1607250839&s=books&sr=1-5

 

Jun in Tokyo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums

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