KITS 10/2020

R6709, P/O Colin Falkland Gray, RNZAF, No. 54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, March 1940

Flown by P/O Colin Falkland Gray, R6709, coded KL-T, wore the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth on

the upper surfaces, and White/Night lower surfaces. Type A fuselage roundels, Type B upper wing roundels and Mixed Grey code letters

were carried. No roundels on the bottom surfaces. Note the Rotol constant speed propeller. The aircraft was equipped with an older

TR.9B radio, with the wire antenna stretching between the antenna mast and fin tip. The antenna mast isolator was a little bit shorter

while using the newer TR.9D radio. There was no rear mirror or head armor yet installed. Colin Gray got his first kill, a Bf 109E, on May

25th, 1940, while escorting a Swordfish formation to bomb Gravelines. By early September he had claimed 14½ kills. He finished the war

as Wing Commander with 27 kills, two shared, six probable and four shared probable kills. This score makes him the top scoring New

Zealand fighter ace of the Second World War.

N3250, P/O Allan R. Wright, No. 92 Squadron, RAF Croydon, United Kingdom, late May/early June 1940

No. 92 Squadron received their first Spitfires in March 1940, replacing their Bristol Blenheim Mk.IFs. The squadron became operational

on May 9th, 1940. Interestingly, the unit’s Spitfires retained the pre-war GR codes until the end of July, when the switch was made to QJ.

The code letters, as well as the fuselage Type A.I roundels, look to be non-standard. The bottom wing surfaces were standard black/white, with the remainder of the bottom surfaces in aluminum. The Type A roundels were added to the bottom surfaces during the Battle of

France, being bordered in yellow on the left black painted wing. Note black aircraft code letter S painted on the bottom of the nose. Wire

antenna was a component of the TR.9D radio that equipped this aircraft. It is believed that N3250 was flown by P/O Alan R. Wright, who

flew his first combat mission on May 23rd, 1940. He claimed two Bf 110s damaged and another probably destroyed during this sortie

over Dunkirk. The next day, Wright added a Bf 110 destroyed and one more probable. During WWII, he was credited with 11 confirmed

kills.

INFO Eduard - October 2020

eduard

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