Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43

[Buckeye30]

"Airhistory.org.uk" gives X-Y (E) as EP305, 229 Sqn. flown off "Eagle". There's a lot of re-painting around the codes and the spinner is Sky or Sky Blue not red.

The Me109G is Yellow 14, 6./JG53 there is another photo of the left side with insignia and b/w spiral spinner. X-Y is in the foreground. One of several left at Comiso in July when they moved further north to Rammaca.
( As 229 was formed from 603 on Malta in Aug.1942 and 603 dropped their "X" code then, maybe they kept their code).?.
Nick

[Zoran Petek]

Hello,

X-Y EP305 flew in 229 Sqn winter/May 1943, and was then sent to Africa. Later X-Y __290 flew from June 1943, and EE741 in September. I did not fond mention of EP305 in 229's orb in July, so at Comiso X-Y EP305 could be flown by some high ranking officer (and thus marked E?). For example W/Cdr Pave from ME command visited Sicily on 21.7.43.
On operations at that time Spitfire JE JK533 was flown by W/Cdr Ellis, HD JL122 was flown by W/Cdr H. Dundas (and sometimes by W/Cdr G.K. Gilroy, who later got his 'own' GK-G JK143).

By the way EP305 had accident on Lentini, Sicily, 26.8.43 and was SOC 30.9.43.

https://youtu.be/tZxXsxcT8z8
Spitfire V trop SN-C of No. 243 Squadron RAF at Sicily passing Bf 109G Yellow 14 of JG 53.
It is possible that 243 Sqn used code A briefly, but only A-R EP650 is photographed at Maison Blanche.

B (242 Sqn) was discused before, and C (154 Sqn) is confirmed on Asibiz site.

D-K was personal code of D. Kains Spitfire EP312 in Egypt.

Also in Egypt Spitfire F-A ER934 flew in 73 Operational Training Unit and crashed 20.9.43, although some sources give code F for 72 Sqn and/or 72 OTU.
72 Sqn coded RN in Africa https://youtu.be/_GKkj3zuPgc

F was code of 81 Sqn in USSR https://youtu.be/-8b64nKR5T4

In Africa 81 Sqn's code was G, Nick was right.
Another Spitfire was coded G-G, EP566 of Greek 335 Sqn. Lost in Greece 2.10.46.

Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst, AOC Desert Air Force, flew his personal Spitfire coded HB.

Letter I was often used as squadron code instead of number one on some Coastal Command's aircraft. Also famous Dakota AI of 267 Sqn was in fact A1.

J was 93 Sqn's code in Africa. It seems that ER675 was J-P and ER847 J-F, early 1943.
J-H was much later Mk IX MH944 flown by Col J.D.W. Human, 7 SAAF Wing at Forli, Italy, 1945.

L was 152 Sqn's code, but soon reverted to UM.
152 Sqn coded UM https://youtu.be/BfbxSVW9JUU

Have a nice weekend

Zoran

[Buckeye30]

Thanks Zoran. Is this the photo of EP650 with "A" ? If it's for identification it's not very clear being in red.

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...IWM-CNA33.html


These 2 Spifires are interesting (to me) for the unusual camouflage patterns which must have been done in the field maybe at the MU, and very recently....

https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...M-CNA2220.html
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...M-CNA4274.html


Regards
Nick

[Zoran Petek]

Hello,


The same plane profiled bellow is in the middle of photo. On the asibiz site immediately behind A-R there is another Spitfire with A applied in white.

Profile from Mushroom publication. Lots of profiles, photos and walkaround section with many details. Recommended for modelers.

Another example of camouflage pattern, this time mirrored, at
https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...a-1944-0A.html

Regards

Zoran

[Buckeye30]

Zoran. These 2 were delivered to Casablanca by ship ( convoy KX.2) arriving 29/10/42 for the "Torch" landings; both have non-standard patterns and seem to have had recent re-paints maybe at 145 MU. at Cazes Airport Casablanca (if they were operating then). They were assembled by the Special Erection Party on North Front.

They are not in the standard "Desert" scheme which photos of Mk.Vs/IX/VIIIs being assembled from shipping crates show and which were painted at the factory, and the paintwork is surely new. The very light undersides could be a locally mixed Sky Blue, not dark enough for Azure.
Let me know what you think would you?
Thanks
Nick



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ch%2C_1942.jpg

[Tim O.]

From a letter written by the Squadron Leader of 242 Squadron in 1996, it seems 242’s Spitfires were shipped to Gibraltar, where they were reassembled. From other sources, it looks like the Squadron personnel arrived by ship and then the pilots flew the aircraft from Gibraltar to Maison Blanche in preparation for Torch with ground crew coming on by boat.

[Zoran Petek]

Casablanca was stil in Vichy hands in October. Photo is taken at Gibraltar (The Rock is visible in the background), probably October/November 1942. North Front is also at Gibraltar.

Early 1943 Spitfire underside colors were standarised: Azure Blue or Light Mediterranean Blue.

I do not know AR525's history, except that was in Africa in Spring 1943.
There is some conflicting info about EP965: probably flown by 249 and 241 Sqn at Malta (accident 25.3.43, Cat 3). Probably repaired. Also listed in MACAF 213 Sqn in Egypt, 253 Sqn, and 73 Sqn at Foggia V.44.

MA859 was erected from crates by 145 MU at Casablanca, but later in 1943. SOC 29.8.46.

Zoran

[Buckeye30]

Yes I meant Gibraltar not Casablanca. Thanks.


Zoran. Have you got " British Aviation Colours" from the RAF Museum with WW2 AMOs? If not you can send me a PM with your e-mail. I mentioned the underside colour as "Sky" is still included in an Amendment in Dec. 1942, with Azure and Lt. Mediterranean Blue.


Nick

[Zoran Petek]

Page from "Comat codes"

Some additions:
3 SCHOOL OF GENERAL RECONNAISSANCE
Coded 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1 Botha I L6250 1-F, Anson I DJ356 1-F
2 Botha I W5077 2-W, Anson I AX232 2-05
3 Botha I L6328 3-L, Anson I EG134 3-01
4 Botha I L6497 4-H, Anson I N5368 4-03
5 Botha I L6297 5-B

4 RADIO SCHOOL, coded 4+digits
Dominie I X7449 4-92
Proctor I P6180 4-99, Proctor IV NP365 4-32
Oxford II ED126 4-109

5 MIDDLE EAST TRAINING SCHOOL:
Until 1942 known as Torpedo Bombing School.
Beaufort II DE126 5-N
Beaufighter XI JM401 5-N
Hurricane IIC L8902 5-W, Hurricane IV LD216 5-V
Wellington IC DV550 5-G, Wellington VIII HX864 5-B etc.



Wellington of 8 Sqn, Aden


Baltimore FW373, ex 55 Sqn. Used later for communicatoons. SOC 14.3.46.


F-A of 73 OTU. Spinner is single colour, probably Mid Stone.


Well known Spitfire of 152 Sqn. Ended the war coded 'N' in 352 Yugoslav Sqn RAF, Prkos 45. Later in JRV, 9491, Mostar, until accident 6.10.47.


Last but bot least. Educated guess of Tim's Spit ER778

Also Nick was right - Sky is stil listed 1942 for underside colour "abroad".

Zoran

[Buckeye30]

Thanks again Zoran. I still think EN455 / G--R COULD be 81 Sqn.; on 20 April 43 Sgt. D W Rathwell RCAF ( 81 Sqn) shared an Me109 in her on a sweep to Bizerta. He had gone to 81 in N. Africa in Dec. 1942 and Malta in June 43 (he went to India with them in Nov.) flew 132 sorties in 81. By July EN455 was with 154 Sqn. flown by Sgt. Groombridge.
I suppose it's possible that Rathwell "borrowed" EN455 from 87 but they were not based nearby in April. The caption to her photo says Souk-el-Arba but 81 Sqn. was at Soul el-Khemis a few miles away.
Regarding the underside colours, the Mk.Vs which came from the CBAF factory in Desert scheme (the 5th order in ER series and some ES) had very light undersides, lighter than regular Sky; maybe Sky Blue, both were thought too light for N. Africa.
Of the 4 colours, Sky Blue was lightest, then Sky, then Azure and LM Blue darkest.


Nick