Mystery Spitfire - N3086??

[Steve Darlow]

Can anyone help please.

I am working on a book with W/C Richard Pinkham DFC and he has provided me with a picture of a Spitfire. It is annotated as a Mk V but we could do with some clarification, It looks like the serial number if N3086, but it is certainly not clear.

Any ideas on what it is are most welcome.

With thanks

Steve

[paulmcmillan]

N3096 ????

[Brian]

Hi Steve

According to Air-Britain there was no N3086 (number not used) but N3096 (as suggested by Paul) was lost with 54 Squadron on 22 May 1940, a Mark I.

Hope this helps

Brian

How's the publishing going?

[Steve Darlow]

I'm fairly sure it's an 8, it could end 086, or possibly even 886.
It was captioned (by hand) as a Mk V but I am sceptical and it was in amongst some other pictures that were taken in the 1939/40 period.

The publishing is going well thanks Brian. It's still early days but the Fighting High initiative is being well received to date. Two, possibly three books to come out next year and always on the look out for more ideas or possible article contributions to the Fighting High series.

Steve

[paulmcmillan]

How about N3038 ???? I played about with the photo contrast... ex 41 Sqn Shot Down 29.7.1940 P/O D R Gamblen killed

[Graham Boak]

The large Rotol spinner suggests a Mk.I or Mk.II - and there is no sign of the Coffman starter blister so that would make it a Mk.I.

A Mk.V would have either the DH spinner or the more shapely Rotol bullet.

[VoyTech]

This looks like one of a batch of Mk Is fitted with Rotol constant speed propellers about May 1940. IIRC they were first used by 54 Sqn over Dunkirk (see an account in Al Deeres book of memoirs). Wasn't there a thread on that subject either here or on Keypublishing Forum during the last 12 months?
N3096 sounds likely, but N303.. batch would be too early for a Rotol prop.

BTW, Graham, initial batches of Mk Vs from CBAF had the short and blunt Rotol propellers, exactly like this one.