KITS 09/2021

F Mk.VIII, JF330, AVM Harry Broadhurst, Africa, 1943

Harry Broadhurst joined the RAF in 1926. He became an outstanding display pilot and was promoted to CO of various units. He

took part in the Battle of Britain and managed to shoot down two Bf 109s on July 2, 1941. Unfortunately, he was downed by AA fire

during the same combat sortie. Five days later, Broadhurst´s aircraft was damaged yet again, the successful pilot on the German

side being Hptm. Josef Priller, the JG 26 fighter ace. By August 19, 1942, Broadhurst was credited with 13 confirmed kills,

7 probable kills and 10 damaged enemy aircraft. He was promoted to Air Vice Marshall and took command of the Desert Air Force in January 1943. As the commanding officer he had the right to use his initials as his aircraft code. The AVM pennant appeared

under the windscreen. The aircraft was desert camouflaged and was equipped with extended wingtips.

F Mk.VIII, JF470, 308th FS, 31st FG, 12th AF, Fano Air Base, Italy, 1944 – 1945

The 31st Fighter Group flew Spitfire Mk.Vs, Mk.VIIIs and Mk.IXs from June 1943 till March 1944. The Group was subsequently re-equipped with P-51 Mustangs but a few Spitfires were retained as hacks. Mustangs flown by this FG had red-yellow stripes on

the wing tips. The red color was closer to the wingtips, but it is not clear if the red color position was the same on this Spitfire.

The wingtip appears to be yellow in available photos. The camouflage is probably that for high altitude fighters and consists of

Medium Sea Grey on upper and PRU blue on lower surfaces. Note the clipped wings.

F Mk.VIII, JF404, No. 32 Squadron RAF, Foggia Air Base, Italy, Early 1944

The high altitude fighter camouflage scheme adorned this Spitfire as well. In accordance with regulations, red-blue cockades

were painted on the fuselage and upper sides of the wings. No national insignia was applied on the bottom of the wings. A photo

of this aircraft shows that the GZ code letters did not adhere to regulations on the right side of the fuselage.

The aircraft was equipped with extended wingtips.

INFO Eduard - September 2021

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