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W3312, S/Ldr James Rankin, No. 92 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill,
Great Britain, June–August 1941
W3312, W/Cdr James Rankin, Biggin Hill Wing, RAF Biggin Hill,
Great Britain, August-December 1941
James Rankin joined the RAF in 1935 and after
training he joined No. 25 Squadron, then was
transferred to the Fleet Air Arm where he
flew with No. 825 Naval Air Squadron on HMS
Glorious. After serving with the FAA he became
an instructor with No. 5 OTU. In early 1941 he was
promoted to Squadron Leader and transferred to
No. 64 Squadron to gain operational experience.
During his short time with this unit, he is credited
with shooting down one-third of a Ju 88 and
two damaged enemies. In February 1941 he took
command of No. 92 East India Squadron, which
was in the process of being rearmed with the
new Mk.Vb Spitfires. During the summer fighting
his score increased rapidly. In June 1941 he was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for nine
kills and on June 14 he shot down Galland’s
wingman, Obfw. Robert Menge of III./JG 26
(18 victories). Spitfire W3312, which was Jamie
Rankin’s personal aircraft, was one of the most
successful and brightly colored Spitfires in the
RAF. It was decorated with the inscription EAST
INDIA SQUADRON on the left side of the tank
cover and the pilot’s personal emblem, which
was a red lion in the crest. Under the cockpit,
Rankin had symbols of the kills he had achieved.
On the right side, the donation inscription
“The Wiltshire Moonraker I” was displayed under
the cockpit. Rankin’s Spitfire was camouflaged
with a standard scheme consisting of shades of
Dark Green / Dark Earth / Sky.
In September 1941 Rankin became Wing
Commander at Biggin Hill and in October received
the Distinguished Service Order. In December
1941 Rankin completed his tour of operations
and was sent to Fighter Command. He returned
to operational flying in April 1942 and led the
Biggin Hill Wing again until December 1942.
He then served at Central Gunnery School and
in August 1943 took command of No. 15 Fighter
Wing. During the Normandy landings in June 1944,
he was commanding officer of No. 125 Wing.
Rankin scored a total of 22 kills against enemy
aircraft, including five shared ones (13+1 on
Spitfire W3312), three probable and two shared
probable kills, 16 damaged and three shared
damaged. Almost all of the kills were achieved
on Spitfires Mk.Vb. The Spitfire that Rankin flew
in the autumn of 1941 as Wing Commander of
Biggin Hill already carried the new camouflage
scheme effective from August 16. Photographs
show the use of a very dark shade of Mixed Grey
(probably Extra Dark Sea Grey) in place of the
original Dark Earth, the lower surfaces were in
the new Medium Sea Grey. Although Rankin, as
Wing Commander, could have chosen his initials
in place of the squadron code letters, he did not
use this option and retained the original code
letters QJ
-
J, newly repainted in the Sky shade.
KITS 02/2024
INFO Eduard54
February 2024