[Andy Saunders]

Larry

I don't know if it can be seen on any of Peter's photo but there was also a curious red disc with a white outline aft of the cross on at least one (possibly both) sides of the fuselage. It was there when the aeroplane was first photographed in India a few years back. I cannot fathom out what it might have been. It was almost like the centre of an RAF roundel.

As you say, there must be photos of the aircraft either at crash site or in India (latter more likely!) from the period. I have the original salvage report on the aeroplane from 49 MU.

The blanked off quarter panel (front r/h of front screen canopy assy) puzzles me, although I found this image which, if one looks through the open cockpit, it seems this aircraft is similarly fitted. I cannot make out what is going on with the cowling intake on port side in this picture, either, or that it SEEMS to have no gun troughs and neither have radio masts.

Another odd feature is the inscription on rear fuselage (port side) that appears in one of the pictures on this thread. It seems to give details of a flying school, a town/airfield location that I cannot make out, and a telephone number. Presumably this must have been under the fuselage paintwork and is now showing through?

Andy