[Alex Smart]

Hello VoyTech,
Perhaps I was not clear in my question and responce.So please bear with me.

Originally I put the question
"with regard to the a/c camouflage pattern, can it be cleared up if it is "A" or "B" pattern ? and would this be the reason also that the "FY" is aft on the fuselage side rather than forward was that the general practice ?"

[example A/c seen with port side fuselage codes FYOB and also seen with port side fuselage codes BOFY].

You replied correctly that
"IIRC all Mk Vs were built after the 'B' pattern was dropped, so they were all 'A' pattern by default."

I then responded with
"Yes you are correct, from January 1941 on production lines only Scheme "A".
The question was about the "FY" squadron code being before or after the fuselage roundel and if the camouflage scheme had any bearing on it. This if so would I thought help with the aircraft serial number, as it could be an odd or even number.
The question is now longer relevant due to your reply. Unless it is Pennings IIa in the photo ? But still it would not help as the number is even so scheme "A" anyway."

[Pennings a/c was a Mk.IIa serial P7774].

You have now said
"the rule wasn't that simple. In some production batches it was 'B' scheme on even serials."

With this latest reply are you still refering only to mk.V's ? as this seems to contradict the 14th January 1941 edict that ALL future Spitfires had "A" scheme camouflage only. OR do you perhaps suggest that Pennings a/c had the "B" type camouflage pattern ?

I in no way wish to upset or to labour the point but am just trying to arrive at a way to ID the aircraft in the photo by offering ideas as to how perhaps to go forward and arrive at the ID.

All the very best
Alex