KITS 09/2022

EN133, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, early 1943

This Spitfire flew for the first time on November 16,

1942 and its first and only known affiliation is with

No. 611 Squadron RAF. Among squadron members

who were entrusted with this aircraft was Franz

Ferdinand Colloredo Mansfeld, a member of Austrian

nobility and a US citizen (three confirmed kills and

four probables). EN133 was destroyed on March 14,

1943 during an attack on Abbeville airfield in France

(Operation Ramrod 188), when Spitfires clashed with

Fw 190s from JG 26. The pilot of EN133 – W/Cdr. James

H. Slater, the CO of No. 453 Sqdn RAAF – was killed

in action.

EN354, Lt. Leonard V. Helton, 52nd FG, 4th FS, La Sebala Airfield, Tunisia, June 1943

The US Army Air Force was one of the Spitfire Mk.IX

operators in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. The 52nd Fighter Group flew Spitfires till

March/April 1944 when it was re-equipped with the

P-51 Mustang. The Group came to northern Africa as

a part of the invading Allied forces during Opera-

52

INFO Eduard

tion Torch that was launched on November 8, 1942.

The British camouflage is topped up with US national insignia. At least one British roundel was left on

the left wing underside. The former markings were

ovepainted with fresh colors that seem to be darker

than the rest of the camouflage. The new code letters

were added then. The yellow outline of the national

insignia was applied during Operation Torch to distinguish US aircraft and frequently seen in the Mediterranean during the following months.

September 2022