PRU at St. Eval

[hrossm]

I've a general interest (from a modelling point of view) in RAF aircraft in Devon and Cornwall. Resources I know about can be found via my webpage http://www.hrmtech.com/SIG/devcor.asp. However these are all published documents and often lead to questions I cannot answer at 250 miles range from the PRO.
One such concerns the PRU Mosquito shown on p157 of Chris Ashworth's book 'RAF Coastal Command 1936-69'. The photo caption states it is visiting the St. Eval detachment in September 1941, which limits possibilities for its identity and the early cowling/exhaust arrangement which can be seen in the photo is compatible with those. What I would like to know is the identity (or identities if more than one visited) and whether it was overall PRU Blue or camouflaged (either interpretation is possible from the photo).
Please can anyone help ?

[Graham Boak]

I can't answer your question directly, but can point you at Paul Lucas's booklet for Guideline (Scale Aircraft Modelling), on the early bomber and PR Mosquitoes. The camouflage scheme of these early PR aircraft, when not PRU Blue, was non-standard. I believe the book is still available from the magazine: if you can't get it come back to me and I'll dig it out of my loft.

One other point for you: there is a reference in Terence O'Brien's first book, about his operations on Hudsons, to PRU Spitfires at St. Eval in blue or a dirty white (phrase from memory - presumably PRU Pink). Are you familiar with the book?

[brewerjerry]

Hi
If it's any help only references I have are :-

mosquito warpaint

pg57 shows LY-U, summer '41 with ' medium sea grey/olive grey upper surfaces and Titanine Cosmic (PRU Blue) undersides.

similar story in combat colours 5 mosquito
pm me if you need a scan of the page for personal use
cheers
jerry

[hrossm]

Thanks for the replies and the offer of scans - I have the Mosquito books showing the non-standard camouflage but I'm not sure if it was used on this machine (the photo could go either way but is more one-colour than pattern).

As to the PRU Spitfires, different versions were used at St.Eval, some PRU blue and some (PR.VII or PR.IG retaining the guns) in PRU pink.

Thanks again,
Ross