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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
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#1
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Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
A long shot I know, but would anyone be prepared to share images of Spitfire Mk VCs belonging to No. 242 Squadron at the turn of the year 1942-43 in North Africa. I would like to get a profile done of ER778 and am struggling to find reference material.
Thanks for any help.
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Best wishes Tim O. Looking for any information or documents relating to: Alfred Schmittka 5./KG 54; Josef Harmeling 4.(Schlacht)/LG 2; Wilhelm Gaul 1./106, 2./906 & III./KG 40; Karl Müller I./KG 2; Werner Breese 5.(F)/122 |
#2
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Tim - ER778 was a Vb (Merlin 46) dedicated "Spirit of Beverley" they had Vb s April 42 to Dec. 43 and Vc s July 43 to Feb.44. At the time you said they were in Algeria.
I havn't seen a photo but almost certainly in Desert scheme with stencilled serial, their "LE" codes weren't always carried (more common on their Mk.IXs) and spinners should have been red as on ER773 but sometimes black or Dark Earth. Hope you find a photo. Nick |
#3
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Thanks Nick. My typo, I meant VB. Keeping my fingers crossed but I know such images are very rare.
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Best wishes Tim O. Looking for any information or documents relating to: Alfred Schmittka 5./KG 54; Josef Harmeling 4.(Schlacht)/LG 2; Wilhelm Gaul 1./106, 2./906 & III./KG 40; Karl Müller I./KG 2; Werner Breese 5.(F)/122 |
#4
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Hello,
Sqn's code was B then, and LE was used before and again later. |
#5
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Thanks Zoran. Yes, I believe the shortened codes used in Operation Torch were still in use in early 1943.
__________________
Best wishes Tim O. Looking for any information or documents relating to: Alfred Schmittka 5./KG 54; Josef Harmeling 4.(Schlacht)/LG 2; Wilhelm Gaul 1./106, 2./906 & III./KG 40; Karl Müller I./KG 2; Werner Breese 5.(F)/122 |
#6
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Zoran. With regard to single-letter Spitfire codes in N. Africa-Malta in this period (1942-43) I would appreciate your thoughts on these, or corrections.
G...81 Sqn Algeria 1942-3 L..152 Sqn NW Africa 1942-3 V...1435 Sqn (permanent) T...249 Sqn Malta 1942-3 J...93 Sqn Algeria 1943 B...242 Sqn "Torch" 1942, Algeria X...229 Sqn Malta 1942-3 X...(603 Sqn)? Malta 1942 possible transfer V...126 Sqn 1942 short period (transfer?) Obviously codes were not always changed due to time limits which can be confusing. 242 reverted back to "LE" by the time of Operation "Husky" eg ER163 LE--J. This was about the time they got their Mk. Vc s. Thanks Nick |
#7
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Hello,
From a brief look, and not a definitive list: 72 G, than RN 43 81 F, than FL 43 92 GR Gibraltar 42, than QJ 93 J, than HN 43, than DV 45 on Mustangs, renamed from 237 126 X Malta, than MK 42, than TD 43, than 5J in UK 44. On Malta Spitfires often flew as a pool. 145 SO in UK, than none, than ZX 152 L, than UM 43 154 Possibly H? (looks like ES187 was coded H-C), than HT, than HG in UK. 185 none Malta, than GL 43 229 X Malta, than HB 43, 9R in UK 44 242 B 42, than LE 249 T, than GN. Also delivery codes 3, 22. 601 Delivery codes 1, 2, 3, than UF 603 Delivery codes 2, 4 1435 V Zoran |
#8
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
Many thanks Zoran. Looks like 154 used "C" in 1943, some examples here.... Nick
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...M-MEC2032.html https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...r-1943-0B.html https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...r-1943-0A.html https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...-1943-IWM.html |
#9
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![]() Hello,
Great find! I'll try to check some during weekend. Zoran |
#10
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Re: Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43
A quick update on "G" Spitfires. I think this must be 81 Sqn. The well-known photo of "G--R" EN455 (Mk.IX) usually says 81 Sqn. at Souk-el-Khemis in April 1943.
EN455 was flown by F/O D.W. Rathwell RCAF (81 Sqn.) on 20th April when he shared an Me109 on a sweep to Bizerta; they were operating from "Paddington" airstrip, one of the 6 SOUK airfields named after London railway stations (Tunisia). EN455 is recorded as dedicated "FORT HUDSON'S HOPE" on a couple of web-sites but it may not have been painted on. She was in the Desert Scheme. I can't remember seeing an "F" Spitfire (?) but my memory isn't what it was. Regards Nick Last edited by Buckeye30; 31st March 2023 at 11:36. Reason: Pilot initials |
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