140 Sqn Spitfire PRVIC X4492 D-P

[PJWIGHT]

Hello

This aircraft flying from Benson suffered an engine failure and force landed at Borthwood Copse, Sandown, Isle of Wight on the 22cnd of April 1942, Pilot P/O F J Blackwood. Pilot unhurt, the aircraft was recovered and repaired.
I have the code for this as D-P, is this correct?. Would anybody know what paint scheme this aircraft would be in and how the code was arranged.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

PJWIGHT,
Have you tried this site?
Yours
Adriano
www.jshawmsc.f2s.com/140squadron.pdf

[VoyTech]

DP was the unit code (previously of 1416 Flt). There are few photos of Spitfires with this code and IIRC no individual letters were carried. The letters DP were applied between the tail and the fuselage roundel, in a similar fashion to LY on 1 PRU aircraft.
While with 1 PRU X4492 was in standard high altitude scheme: single darkish tone overall, presumably PRU Blue. I believe it must have retained this scheme in 140 Sqn.

[PJWIGHT]

Thanks

After 1PRU the aircraft spent 3 months in use for trials and experimental tests including extended wingtips prior to issue to 140 Sqn. The 140 Sqn PDF linked by Adriano indicates that normal camouflage livery was used by them at this date along with the squadron code ZW with individual aircaft codes as well, some aircraft were painted into allover colours (Blue, White and Pink) however ther dates flown do not appear to tally with X4492 known ops.
After the IOW forced landing the aircraft went to a maintenance unit then to Canada, all photographs I have found are of it in Canadian service.
Still not sure on what was actually on this at date of forced landing.

Pete

[VoyTech]

Originally Posted by PJWIGHT

After 1PRU the aircraft spent 3 months in use for trials and experimental tests including extended wingtips prior to issue to 140 Sqn.

In all probability it didn't. X4942 did, and these two aircraft are commonly confused in various publications.

[Revi16]

X4492 http://www.spitfires.ukf.net/p015.htm

[PJWIGHT]

Thanks for reference.
I had already seen this and codes are not given, a more detailed history is available on a canadian site for this aircraft which indicates it was returned to service with 140 squadron after its forced landing prior to leaving for Canada. Apparently they have the aircrafts original record card which has many overwritten entries, alterations and struck out notes leading to some confusion over what actually was done and in what order..
Still no confirmation on codes however ZW without an individual letter looks likely.
The Canadian site says DP in an overall pink scheme however subsequent entries strongly disagree.

Pete

[VoyTech]

Pink or disruptive camouflage scheme would be most unusual on a high altitude PR Spitfire variant. PRU Blue was typical for these aircraft. This colour faded badly, and it often appears very pale in black and white photos, and this results in it being misinterpreted as "PRU Pink" or "Medum Sea Grey".

Revi16, if you check X4942 on the same website you'll see what I meant.