Strana 39
W3457, F/O James E. Johnson, No. 616 Squadron, RAF Tangmere, the United Kingdom, August 1941
W3817, S/Ldr Richard M. Milne, No. 92 squadron, RAF Gravessend, the United Kingdomn,
August-December 1941
“Johnnie” Johnson was the Commonwealth’s
most successful fighter ace with 41 confirmed
kills. After pilot training in August 1940,
he was briefly assigned to No. 19 Squadron
and transferred to No. 616 Squadron in early
September. In the spring of 1941, Tangmere Wing
commander Douglas Bader chose him as his
wingman in his four-man formation. After Bader
was shot down and captured on August 9, 1941,
Johnson had the words BADER’S BUS Co. STILL
RUNNING painted on the left side of the fuel tank
cover of his Spitfire W3457. On the right side of
the fuselage, W3457 bore the inscription CYNON
VALLEY, referring to the urban areas of Aberdare
and Mountain Ash Glamorgan, which had paid
for this Spitfire through a fundraising campaign.
Preserved photographs confirm the application
of the new Fighter Command camouflage valid
from August 15, 1941, in shades of Dark Green,
Mixed Gray, and Medium Sea Gray.
“Dickie” Milne became an ace with No. 151
Squadron during the Battle of Britain and
was transferred to No. 92 Squadron based at
Biggin Hill in mid-1941. Initially, he was serving
as commander of A Flight but overtook the
command of the entire Squadron in September.
On January 19, 1942, he took command of
No. 222 Squadron at North Weald and led
it until May, when he ended his operational
tour. In early January 1943, he was appointed
commander of the elite wing at Biggin Hill.
On March 14, 1943, after shooting down an Fw
190, Dickie was shot down by an Fw-190A-4
from II/JG 26 during a dogfight over Berck-Sur-
Mer and was captured. After his liberation in
May 1945, he was discharged from the RAF in
1946 as a Wing Commander. During his wartime
career, he shot down 15 enemy aircraft plus
one probably and damaged 11. The Spitfire
W3817, which Milne flew as commander of
No. 92 Squadron, was a presentation aircraft
from Wellinborough, acquired with funds raised
by the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.
It already bore the new Fighter Command
camouflage in shades of Dark Green, Ocean Grey
(Mixed Grey), and Medium Sea Grey. On the left
side of the fuel tank cover, it bore the inscription
“New Yorklin” and under the cockpit there were
11 black and white crosses painted as killmarks.
KITS 01/2026
INFO Eduard
39
January 2026