Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

hi everybody,

a friend of mine has a nice picture of a flipped over crash landed spitfire in a field.

It looks like a spit V or IX (but no clipped wings), three blade prop (blades bent = metal), three exhaust pipes,
I would say that the markings are rather early (yellow surrounding on the fuselage roundel : 1941 / 1942 ?) and on each side of the fuselage roundel you can see:
"A" on the left and
"E" on the right.

serial number not legible.

A German soldier is looking at it (so it crashed in an occupied country), many damages can be seen and oil leaks,
so it was clearly shot down.

The field is ploughed but no vegetation, so it was winter or early spring ?

Sorry, but this friend cannot show this picture, it is not his property....

can you help identify ?

thanks

GC

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

From what you have said I don't think it was a Spitfire Mk IX, as these had four bladed props as far as I can see from my files.

Can you tell from the photo whether the A or the E is part of the Sqn code or the individual aircraft letter and which side are they painted; port or starboard?

Some Squadrons painted the Sqn codes so that they were nearest the cockpit on each side and the individual code letter nearest the tail where it would fit a bit easier, while other Sqns painted the code to read the same each side.

I was wondering if the Spitfire was from 41 Sqn being A-EB with the B hidden

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Hi Larry and thanks for the remark on MkIX,

it is very clear, you can see:

"A" then the roundel, and then "B",

there are no hidden letters so, the idea of "A EB" can be ruled out.

It is in fact strange: instead of having the standard:
"two letters"/ the roundel/ "one letter", you clearly have
"one letter"/roundel/"one letter"

and this is absolutely symmetrical , it is the same on both sides;

The mystery stays..

GC

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

I'm wondering if it could have been the personal 'mount' of a senior Commander like having D-B for Douglas Bader and that someone else borrowed it for an op and got shot down.

Or the first letter of the code was painted out to repair damage and it got used on an op before they had time to paint the missing letter.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

AB is not listed as a personal code in Combat Codes. However, if it is the same on both sides then it is very unlikely to be unfinished painting. This is perhaps one to be sent to Andy Thomas in the hope that more information has come to light since his book was published.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

In post #1 you indicate the code is A roundel E, then in post #3 you say "A" then the roundel, and then "B". Which is it?

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

OOOPPPSSS !!

my fault !!!!

thanks Revi16 for pointing out my mistake.

The letters on the aircraft are "A E", and not "A B" (as in post 3)

sorry Graham (and others) for having made you search on the wrong letters.

I probably went to school to long and repeated "A B C .." too much.

Sorry about that.

GC

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

s'OK, I checked AE as well. It didn't appear either. Incidentally, Combat Codes does have BA as used, but unknown user or type.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

402 RCAF used the code "AE" and they flew Spitfire?

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

The squadron code was treated as a single unit, placed together on one side of the roundel, and would not be separated.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

True, but without a picture to look at it, it's all so much of a guess. Not like there's few pictures of shot down Spitfire II and Vs on German held territory.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Hello Larry and all,

So its been a few days so here is my pence worth.

8th March 1942.
121 Sqdn Spitfire Vb serial number BL661.
Pilot W/C A. Eyre DFC POW.
Circus to NE France, attacked by Me109's and claimed by Ltn A. Beese of JG26.
Eyre was North Weald Wing Leader.
So my gues is his a/c might have been marked "A o E".

Alex

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Great, thanks Alex !!

Gilles

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

It seems convincing to me.

Has anyone attempted to put together a list of the Wing Commanders in Fighter Command during this period, and compare them against known individual codes? This would perhaps help to highlight gaps such as this one, or identify currently known unknowns.

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Hi Graham,
I sent you a PM
Alex

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Hi Graham,
I sent you a PM
Alex

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

Gentlemen!

Here is a very smart looking A Eyre, even if mud spattered, taken POW by germans!

Picture from ECPA records - France
Wise62

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

How about a photo of the Spitfire as well?

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

My uncle flew Spitfire IX with AE markings. Douglas Hill Squadron 402 out of Kenley air field. his log book has AE-A, AE-H,AE-G. from nov 2 to Nov 28. Nov 28 he crashed and died AE-S

Re: Help identify a crashed Spitfire with "A / E" markings
 

My Father was ground crew for AE E however there may have been replacements as the war was progressing. Stationed at Redhill Surrey and Kenley- in 1962 during a trip to the UK, when I was a young lad, there was an AE E on a pedestal at Kenley. Yes it was the 402. have been scanning it my 93 year old Fathers album. Cheers