Spitfire ML407 wing type?

[PaulR]

Hi there,

was wondering if any Spitfire experts might be able to help me out. I have recently built Hasegawa's Mk 1X Spitifire as ML407 as she would have looked on D-Day, using the Aeromaster sheet (the one with full D-Day stripes and pink elephant motif under the cockpit) I've built it with a C wing, but I've just noticed that Aeromaster have shown her with E wing armament, i.e. with short cannon barrels outboard. From what I've found out on the web, ML407 was built as a C wing, but I recall reading that some of 485sqn's Spitifires were field modified with E wing armament. How true this is I don't know, or whether she retained the outer .303s or had the 0.5 browning installed inboard of the cannon. The thing is, I haven't been able to find any wartime shots of ML407 to check against.

Anyway; does anyone know what armament configuration she did actually have on D-Day, or if there are any wartime photos of her available online? I've done the usual Google searches, Grace Spitifre website etc. Also, do I take it that Errormaster incorrectly showed her with no stripes above the wing?!

Grateful for any help, Paul.

[TJJ]

Hugh Smallwood's book on ML407 confirms that it was built with a C wing but modified on 485 Squadron with 2 x 0.5-inch machine guns in the inner bays. The squadron armourers remember the guns being introduced at Hornchurch in February or March 1944, when the Armaments Officer devised a modification of the firing-pin to cure a malfunction.

[Greenshirt]

Paul,

I'm not an expert, and am sure someone (Edgar) with more specifics can fill in, but according to StH, ML407 was delivered as LF IX to 33 Maintenance Unit on 23-4-44; from 30-4-44 to 12-10-44 she was with 485 Sqn on operations. She continued on operations with 341 Sqn, 308 Sqn, 349 Sqn, 345 Sqn and 332 Sqn until 1950 when she was converted to a two-seat trainer.

I found a couple of references that may be useful: The Spitfire Site, outlines the history of the "e" wing a bit, and Edgar provides some useful clarification. Additionally, this thread, provides some more details.

From reading all that, I'd build it with a "c" wing; however lacking photos, you could do it with "e" armament and proving otherwise would be difficult.

I may be corrected and would gladly accept something more accurate. Hopefully I haven't confused the matter.

Tim

[edited to correct my errors]

Edited June 25, 2011 by Greenshirt

[Miggers]

Go to ML407's website,there's her history on it .

http://www.ml407.co.uk/

Make sure your speakers are turned on and up though

Mark