Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43

[Zoran Petek]

Hello,

Nick .I agree that G was 81 Sqn's code (and said that in one post above). No 87 Sqn flew Hurricanes coded LK for a long time, and in Africa also, supplemented by only a few Mk Vs in 1943 and finnaly replaced by late mark Spitfi1res 1944. 87 Sqn's orb quotes they on 10 January 1944 received news that the squadron is to be re-equiprd with Spitfires in the near future.
So I guess there was a typo in 'Combat codes'.
EN455 flew in 87 Sqn in Italiy 1945.

Regards
Zoran

[Zoran Petek]

https://www.eduard.com/eduard/plasti...ombo-1-48.html

Torch destined 44 Spitfires were diverted to Malta, 32 Mk VB on HMS Furious and 12 Mk VC flew directly from Gibraltar. Instruction sheet with no less than 15 interesting schemes, including delivery coded 1-K, 2-A, 3-X, 249's T-N and T-L + many more can be downloaded via the link above or http://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/11172.pdf
Also delivery code C is mentioned in the text, C-20 BR108, C-22 BR107 and C-51 BR175. Another Eduard's good product.

Zoran

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Zoran,

Thank you for sharing this beautiful combo and the interesting schemes of camouflage. Most welcomed link and surely a fantastic product....on the wish list for Xmas!

All the best

Adriano

[Tim O.]

Thanks for the profiles Zoran.

[Buckeye30]

Regarding the colours schemes this is the Signal from HQ Malta to the Air Ministry on April 7 asking for "sea camouflage" to be applied before the first delivery on USS WASP (Operation CALENDAR); and reply next day from the Director of War Organisation to Chief of Air Staff.
Apparently not complied with as the Spitfires loaded for the first delivery from Glasgow were still in Desert, then re-painted on board; second delivery (Operation BOWERY) on WASP remained in Desert.
Abbotsinch (Glasgow) was an aircraft storage facility (41 Group). "DOO" = Director of Ops (Overseas).
Nick








malta-signal by Nicholas King, on Flickr

[Zoran Petek]

THE SECOND WORLD WAR: CAMPAIGN NARRATIVES
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisat...n-narratives1/

TORCH
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/second-world-war-campaign-narratives/north-african-campaign-november-1942-may-1943/"]https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/second-world-war-campaign-narratives/north-african-campaign-november-1942-may-1943/

ADMIRALTTY DIARY FOR GIBRALTAR 1942
https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-NAtGib1942a.htm
Scroll down to the next chapter

Hope this will help many researchers

Regards
Zoran

[Tim O.]

Interesting! Thanks Zoran.

[Zoran Petek]

Some more info


Hurricane HV407 FT-S of 43 Sqn.

"From England, Hurricane units flew fighter-bomber support missions during the Dieppe operation on 19 August 1942, and on 8 November squadrons transferred from England supported Allied landings in Algeria as part of Operation "Torch". No. 43 Squadron, with Hurricane IICs, was the first R.A.F. unit to land in this part of Africa, and it was soon followed by 32, 87 and 253 Squadrons for fighting duties, as well as 225 and 241 Squadrons for army co-operation, in company with a large number of Spitfire squadrons. After initial operations the Hurricanes were retained for convoy patrols and defence of base areas, and units began to receive Spitfires as replacements as quickly as these became available." (Text from Aircam)

"...in November the Axis line broke at El Alamein in Egypt. Four days later, on the 8th, the Allies landed in North-West Africa, part of the air cover supplied by nine Spitfire squadrons of the R.A.F. (72, 81, 93, 111, 152, 154, 232, 242, and 243), and six squadrons of the 31st and 52nd F.G." (Aircam)

It seems that Spitfire AR525 (pictured in RAF markings at Gibraltar on page 3) served later in 308th FS, 31st FG, USAAF. 31st FG landed in Africa from Gibraltar 8th Nov late afternoon.

"Shortly after the fall of Maison Blanche airfield, 19 Hurricanes and 35 Spitfires arrived from Gibraltar as advanced units of RAF Eastern Command. Operations were conducted on the 8th and 9th from a British carrier, though on the first day there was very little air activity because of the shortage of fuel. However, Servicing Commandos and RAF Regiment personnel began work at once on both the airdromes. On the 9th German bombers attacking Algiers were met by RAF fighters and at least 12 were shot down." (The AAF in Northwest Africa)

Blackbird Models has decal sets:
BMD72027 1:72 Operation Torch Pt:1
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VII V8462 C-YD 255 Sqn RAF Souk-el-Arba Algeria 1942
Supermarine Seafire IIc MA974 8-Q 844 NAS FAA H.M.S. Victorious 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb ER676 B-E 242 Sqn RAF Bone Algeria 1942
Spitfire PR Mk.IV BS491 544 Sqn RAF Gibraltar 1942

Blackbird Models BMD72028 1:72 Operation Torch Pt:2
Heinkel He-111H-3 D-ACLZ Deutsche Waffenstillstands Komission Luftwaffe Mekenes Morocco 1942
Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-4 1 4/JG.2 Luftwaffe Kairoun Tunisia 1942
Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-4 JG.2 Luftwaffe Bizerte Tunisia 1942

Blackbird Models BMD72030 1:72 Operation Torch Pt:3
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc HV817 C-FT 43 Sqn RAF Maison Bianche Algeria 1942
Supermarine Seafire Ib MB366 801 NAS FAA H.M.S. Furious 1942
Grumman Martlet IV FN104 6-C 882 NAS FAA H.M.S. Victorious 1942


Torch Hurricane HV817 FT-C of No. 43 Sqn RAF.
However, SAM Combat Colours 2 by H.C. Bridgewater claims that it was in Temperate Land Scheme (Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Sea Grey Medium).


Servicing commandos at Maison Blanche
This and following photos are from Mr. Benham's collection and published some 50 years ago. He was Flt Ldr in 242 Sqn 42, served later in Aden, retired as Gp/C 1958 and was later president of the Spittire Society (Wales).


Spitfire V with the squadron code 'B' of 242 Sqdn at Maison Blanche with Flt Sgt James Robin Mallinson in the cockpit.
He was first to killl He 111H-6 on 9 November (either WNr 7565 1H+EP of 6./KG 26 or WNr 7152 A8+EK of KSG 2). Also claimed 2 Ju 88 + 1 damaged 28.11.42 while flying ER601. He was shot down in B-G ER592 on 2.1.43 and killed.

Captured Vichy Potez 63-11 of Esc 4 BR.


Spitfire of 242 Sqn (ER621) shot down atTabarka 29.11.42


Another one from decal set, and (I believe) the same aircraft later in 154 Sqn (bellow). Note mirrored areas of Dark Earth and Mid Stone.

[Graham Boak]

A few comments on colours.

The colours of the carrier-borne deliveries to Malta have been exhaustively covered by Paul Lucas in a series of articles for Scale Aircraft Modelling Magazine, since reprinted in Colour Conundrums 1. This is too involved for posting here, but if you are interested then it is vital to read.

Sky was included as an option for the Desert Scheme, but was not acceptable to HQ ME as being too light. Azure Blue, which is not particularly dark, was developed from a Light Blue sample sent from the Middle East, and apparently widely used there as ME Light Blue (or Iraqi Blue). The darker blue sometimes seen is Light Mediterranean Blue.

It perhaps should be added that some examples of the original MAP colours show Sky Blue as more intense than the generally accepted pale shade. This perhaps explains why (it was said) some overseas deliveries were in Sky Blue whereas others were Azure Blue. Though it is perhaps more likely that the term sky blue was used in a generic sense to describe any light blue, there are a number of photos showing a blue lighter than Azure Blue.

Azure, as opposed to Azure Blue, was a colour in prewar British Standards, but was a somewhat more greenish shade and not used in WW2 for aircraft.

[AndreasB]

Lovely shot of FT-S with the long-range tanks. Rare to see them so clearly.

All the best

Andreas