BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Assuming this is a mk1 . . .is this unusual?

Andy.

ps search 'spitfire foto' on ebay worldwide to see the others ;-)

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Search didn't work: what is significant about it? markings? camo scheme? serial?

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Sorry - I forgot to post the link . . .here they are :
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

It is a surprise that there have not been more responses on this perhaps it's the World Cup?

I think the PR canopy is fairly rare but I believe they were fitted to some armed Spitfires to fly high level 'Jim Crow' reconnaissance missions tracking LW formations on their way to Britain. A special flight was established No 421 Flight linked to 66Sqdn which had the same LZ codes as 66Sqdn but with a dot ie L.Z. There is a poor quality photo of one of these a/c with the PR canopy. The eBay photo clearly shows a 19Sqdn a/c perhaps they were also involved in these ops or perhaps this is an a/c that previously served with 421 Flight/66Sqdn?

Steve

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Surely this is not P9382, which - flown by F/L Smalley of the PRU, Heston - was shot down over the Friesian Islands on 8 October 1940? Smalley baled out, so probably not much remained of his Spitfire after the crash.

Maybe though K9791 (also of the PRU, Heston), which, piloted by F/Sgt Taylor-Gill, failed to return from a sortie over the Ruhr on 17 August 1940?

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hello,

Spitfire "QV-X" with a colour band around the aft end of the fuselage.
Doesn't that place this event after November 1940 ? So August 1940 is out of play.

I think that this was an old 19 Sqdn a/c with modifications and in use with a PR Unit.

And also apart from the Canopy, look at the port wing bulge. Could this be a forward wing camera fitting, only done on a few a/c I beleive.

Alex

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hello all,

If this is a 19 squadron Spit crash landed on the Dutch beach, then it might be the Spit of F/Lt Cunnigham 19 Sqdn on 28 Aug 41; Spitfire IIa, P8439.

Best wishes,
Rob

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hi all,

1) It´s Mk IIA - see a small cover ahead of exhaust pipes for example.
2) A rare LR version - the tank is clear visible under left wing.
3) This event was after 10/40 - camo with Sky band for example.
4) It should be P8439 s/d by flak on 28/8/41. F/L Cunningham DFC was POW after c/l on Dutch beach. A tragic day for 19 Sqn´s when CO didn´t return to Matlask too.

I expect these very nice pictures will finish in Sudek13´s pocket for hundreds of Euros.

Regards,
Michal

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

According to the book "Fighter Squadron" by Derek Palmer, 19Sqdn re-equipped with l/r Spitfire IIs on 21 August 1941 receiving the a/c from 234Sqdn. On 29 August 1941 eleven a/c went back to the Dutch coast to search for S/Ldr Lawson and encountered a formation of Me110s in the ensuing dogfight 19Sqdn lost another four pilots. 19Sqdn re-equipped with Spitfire IIa on 7 September 1941.

Steve

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

It's a joy to see such a great research, gentlemen!

I can only add that the four Spitfires on 29 August 1941 were shot down by II./ZG 76 "Haifischgruppe" (by Lt Drewes, Ofws Kornatzki and Spitzer, and Gefr. Bopp) against no other own losses than an injured radio operator (Gefr. Alfred Bunke) - a not at all uncommon result for this very successful Zerstörergruppe.

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hi,

Would not wish to dissagree but wasn't the Blister Canopy only used on the PR version of the Spitfire ?

Also if this is a F IIA with the 70 gallon underwing fuel tank, then it is a rare set of pictures I think. I have only seen one or two before these.

Any chance of someone coming up with some drawings of the instalation ?

Thanks

Alex

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hi Alex,

This LR version isn´t presented so much but for example, there was an offer of six great pictures of the 19 Sqn Spitfire on E-bay in April 2006. It was IIA LR, P8255 used by Sgt Davies on 29/8/41 when met Bf110 of 6./ZG76.

Regards,
Michal

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Sorry, it was in 2005.

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Dear Michal,

Regarding the pics of P8255, any idea who bought them?

And Christer,

The Bf.110 of BF Gefr Alfred Bunke was damaged too: Bf.110E-2 M8+KP Werknr 2430 of 6./ZG76 made a belly landing at 11.15 hrs at De Kooy airfield near Den Helder with shot up controls and was eventually damaged for 30%

Perhaps somebody can add the pilot's name of this Bf.110/

Regards,
Hans Nauta

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

I think it's possible to find out if you are registered at E-Bay.

Yes, you are right. I think we'll just have to live with the fact that all records of the pilot's name are long since gone.

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hi Hans,

I have a note for two pictures only, and the new owner is/was well-know "sudek13".


Probably a result of firing two Czechoslovak members of the 19 Sqn, Sgt Lysicky or Sgt Strihavka.

Regards,
Michal

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hi Michal,

Thanks for your quick answer. Well, it doesn't surprise me that Sudek was involved in the auction...

Regarding the damaged Bf.110: this one may also have been shot up by F.Lt A. F. Vokes or Sgt S. E. Booker of the same squadron who both claimed a destroyed Bf.110. Eventually only Werknr 2430 was damaged.

Cheers,
Hans Nauta

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Hello all,

Events on 29 Aug 41:


Pilot: Claim:
Sergeant Stanley Brooker 1 Me 110 vernietigd
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Vokes ½ Me 110 vernietigd
Sergeant V. Lysicky ½ Me 110 vernietigd
Sergeant V. Lysicky 1 Me 110 beschadigd
Flight Sergeant J. Strihavka 1 Me 110 beschadigd

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

sorry, previous reply went wrong -- -

RAF claims (19 Sqdn)
Sergeant Stanley Brooker 1 Me 110 destroyed
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Vokes ½ Me 110 destroyed
Sergeant V. Lysicky ½ Me 110 destroyed
Sergeant V. Lysicky 1 Me 110 damaged
Flight Sergeant J. Strihavka 1 Me 110 damaged

Luftwaffe claims:
Oberfeldwebel Spitzer/Unteroffizier Zimmer 6./ZG 76
Oberfeldwebel Kornacker/ 6./ZG 76
Gefreiter Bob/Gefreiter Zimmermann 4./ZG 76
Leutnant Drewes/Unteroffizier Hrachowina 4./ZG 76

RAF losses (19 Sqdn)
Pilot Officer P.D.G. Stuart P8868 MIA
Pilot Officer Peter Harfield Edmonds P8449 KIA
Sergeant Gordon John Parkin P8243 KIA
Sergeant Clifford Davies P8255 POW

Best wishes,
Rob

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

It´s interesting that Unteroffizier Hrachowina might have been (according to surname) from Sudetenland, so from ex Czechoslovak republic. But it´s only a speculation.

Michal

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Thanks to all of you who have been pursuing this thread. I am writing a book on 19 Squadron during this era and am keen to secure a copy of the picture of Sgt Davies's Spitfire II L.R a.
I am very glad that he survived at all. Most sources indicate that he was killed in this encounter with the Me110's.
I may also have other information that you have been seeking.
By all means write to me direct on henderson_rl@hotmail.com

My Uncle, Flt/Lt Jack Henderson DFC, was in 19 Squadron slightly later. Unfortunately, he was killed in December '42. I have been researching his life but it became so broad that it is now a book.

Best wishes,

Roger Henderson

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

Apologies for bringing back an old thread, but on researching Spitfire V BL907, which I was informed was know as the 'Spirit of Natal', I obtained the attached picture of the aircraft from the IWM. Copyright of the photo belongs to the IWM.

Looking at the hood, it appeard to have a PR type blister fitted, yet it retains the sights of the fighter.

Re: BoB Spitfire with PRU canopy???
 

An RAF officer's trunk belonging to a F/O J Smalley is on e-bay.

I was wondering if he was the same one as up there ^. DFC?

:confused: