Spitfire of 242 Squadron - North Africa 1942-43

[Tim O.]

Thanks for your input gentlemen. Useful information.

[Zoran Petek]

Some pics of Torch Spits




B-E of 242 Sqn



F-H. Unfortunately only last digits can be seen.



J-D of 93 Sqn

[SteveB]

Hi
Based on the same photo as you have used "Combat Codes" (Andy Thomas and Vic Flintham) has got F-H/***42 as possibly 154Sqn.
Steve

[Buckeye30]

May be JK742 flown by Sgt. Groombridge ( 154 Sqn) ( see post above) named "Olive"; aircraft letters were changed regularly, overpainted with Dark Earth around the letter as seen on several others. Groombridge flew her in April 1943 but with 154's "C" code.

The photo could be later (June?) when "HT" was re-introduced when flying over Sicily but the "T" isn't visible. As I've seen, the single letter code was in place about Nov. 42 to June 43. The red letters didn't show up well when weathered.


Nick

[Zoran Petek]

ER254 of 242 Sqn



ER254 of 242 Sqn profile

[Tim O.]

Thanks for the images Zoran, these are very interesting. I think I can begin to provide some answers on fuselage codes, as I now have a log book for 242 Squadron with fuselage codes that I can cross-reference against the serial numbers in the Squadron ORB. Work in progress!

[AndyMa]

The code in the photo of ER254 looks more like B-H, rather than B-N as shown in the profile.

[Buckeye30]

Zoran. This is a puzzle; it says 243 Sqn. ( the Spitfire in the background has their codes "SN") and the date would be July 43; but which letter is their temporary code, X or Y, and "E" was added for some reason. "X" was already allocated so I presume it's "Y" ?

Nick



https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire...M-CNA1029.html

[Zoran Petek]

229 Sqn at Malta used codes X-A to X-Z



About Asibiz picture
In the background is certainly 243 Sqn's Spit. But XYE has different style of markings that 229, seems that X-Y is outlined (white?) and smaller E is probably the same color. Serial is obscured, so it is still a mystery to me.

And back to 242. Tentative and not definitive list.
242 Sqn flew with LE codes in England on Mk VB in approximate range P8791-EP178 and in Africa B (and later LE) coded Mk VB trop EP236-ER968, and Mk VC trop AR566-LZ933.
Examples: Mk VB BL729 LE-V, England VIII-IX.42, in 93 Sqn from IX.42.
Tropical ER676 B-E at Bone XII.42 (later HT-E of 154 Sqn); and ER254 B-H at Djidjelli. ER163 was J in Africa II.43. N was EP545 at Bone XII.42 and lost 28.12.42. Another N was EP909 in Africa III.43; later N was ER933 or LZ933 (with LE code at Malta). ER315 was LE-A at Sicily VII.43.
Mk IX were LE coded: JL230 LE-B, EN304 LE-D, JL180 LE-E, MH321 LE-N, EN241 LE-Z etc.

Hope that logbooks will be uploaded to this site.

Regards to all

Zoran

[Tim O.]

Just for reference, I am reasonably confident that the following Spitfire Mk. VB serial numbers and fuselage codes are correct for No. 242 Squadron around the time of Operation Torch:

EP898 - B
ER625 - C
ER140 - J
ER592 - G
ER778 - J 'Spirit of Beverley'