167 & 253 Sqn Spitfire serials?

[AUS_RAAF]

Hello,

Can anyone help with matching a/c serials for the following Spitfires?

VL-R , Spitfire Mk.V
167 Sqn RAF, Feb – Mar 1943

SW-L, Spitfire LF.Mk.V (clipped wings, Merlin 55M, possibly Trop version with Vokes filter)
253 Sqn RAF, Mar – Apr 1944

Any help with wing designation ie Mk.VA, VB, VC also greatly appreciated. Both aircraft were flown by A. Stening with the respective units during the indicated timeframe.

Regards, Drew H

[JohnE]

BM477 was delivered to 167 Squadron on January 29th 1943 and coded VL-R.

/John

[AUS_RAAF]

Thanks John for the a/c information. The date fits with Stening’s logbook which indicates his last flight in VL-R was an air test on 4th May 1943.

Drew

[JohnE]

Do you happen to have scans of his logbook? I would really appreciate a look.

/John

[AUS_RAAF]

Hi John,

Feel free to contact me off board at dDOTharrATbigpondDOTcom (replace DOT and AT with the relevant symbols) and I'll see what I can do. Is there anything specific you are after?

regards Drew

[Peter Roberts]

Hi Drew

Was Stening an Aussie by chance?

PR

[AUS_RAAF]

That's right Peter. Allen Stening (RAAF) A416625 born in South Australia. His service record can be found online via the National Archives Australia website.

Drew