Spitfire squadron to id

[Snautzer]

Could somebody tell me what squadron this plane belongs to please?

its 1 of a serie of 4 labeled with the life magazine label

[Icare9]

Early Mark (exhaust stubs) and roundel with tailband but no visible serial or personal decoration
2 letter code, could this be a wing commanders intials ( a la DB for Douglas Bader?)
I'd hazard a guess that it feels like RAF Rochford. No evidence of anything else in the background but a lot of ground crew who seem to be checking things very thoroughly, including installing a Browning.
There are many others far more expert, let's give them a crack!

[Brian]

Hi guys

I'm certainly not an expert - but the thought occurred that the 'first' letter of the code could be on the cockpit door.

Cheers
Brian

[SteveB]

I would suggest most likely 54Sqn? They had 'DL' codes pre-War and changed to 'KL' in March 1939.

Steve

[Smithy]

Because the aircraft is wearing the early day fighter scheme with the addition of the Fighter Command Sky spinner and fuselage band this shows it to be post November 1940. Also judging by the ground crew working in singlets this
suggests to me that this is probably spring/summer 1941.

In which case if it is 54 then the airfield will be Hornchurch. Is anybody here able to recognise this as Hornchurch?

91 with DL squadron code was also operating Spits at this stage so I suppose they're another possibility.

Great photo.

[VoyTech]

I believe this has been discussed either on this or another forum a while ago but cannot find the link. Seems to be a 54 Sqn Mk VA at Hornchurch spring/summer 1941.

[Snautzer]

Thanks all so far

But since this is an American magazine could it either also be 71 or 121 eagle sqd? As i understand both were equipped with the V serie. Dont know if an Va was part of that.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Thanks all so far

But since this is an American magazine could it either also be 71 or 121 eagle sqd? As i understand both were equipped with the V serie. Dont know if an Va was part of that.

Sorry Snautzer, it's not an Eagle Squadron aircraft, wrong codes. It's definitely either 54 or 91. And although it's not terribly scientific, I would say most probably 54 judging by the style of the lettering used for the squadron and aircraft codes.

[Snautzer]

Thank you all for the response

[Larry]

Just a thought - could L be the FIRST letter with the aircraft having a repair and touch up of brown to the left of the roundal - such as LO for 602 Sqn? After all the serial number has evidently been overpainted, so the aircraft could have been brought in to use before the job was completed

On second thoughts the spacing of the L and T either side of the roundal suggests it was used by a high ranking pilot with the initials LT - any suggestions?