KITS 10/2020

X4253, P/O Wilfrid G. Duncan Smith, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, February 1941

This Spitfire Mk.Ia, serialled X4253, illustrates the camouflage scheme and markings of Fighter Command aircraft in late 1940 and early

1941. The black painted (Night) left wing was ordered by the Air Ministry on November 27th, 1940. The left wing roundel was then

appropriately outlined in yellow. To improve recognition of friendly aircraft, an 18-inch wide Sky Blue fuselage band was added ahead

of the tail, and the spinner was painted in the same colour. This paint was usually a little bit more blue than the standard under surface

Sky. Some sources name this colour ‘Air Ministry Blue’. This aircraft was equipped with the new VHF TR.1133 radio and, as such, there is

no aerial between the antenna mast and the fin tip. The R.3002 IFF device was carried, indicated by the two associated wire aerials stretching between the fuselage sides and the leading edges of the horizontal tail. Note the external rearview mirror, and the armor plating

behind the pilot´s head was installed. This aircraft was flown by future ace P/O Wilfrid G. Duncan Smith, who joined No. 611 Squadron at

RAF Hornchurch in October 1940 with the rank of Pilot Officer.

X4828, F/Lt Wojciech Kolaczkowski, No. 303 Squadron, RAF Speke, United Kingdom, September 1941

Spitfire Mk.Ia, carrying the serial X4828 and RF-K code, belonged to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron and is representative of the new Day

Fighter Scheme, introduced on August 19th, 1941. From that date, RAF day fighters were painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the

upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces. The aircraft letters were by then changed to Sky, and the fuselage band and

spinner remained in the same colour. Note the thin dark border around the letters and the stencil data inscriptions painted on the Ocean

Grey surfaces, which are believed to be remnants of the original Dark Earth layer. No. 303 Squadron was moved to RAF Speke from RAF

Norholt on July 17th, 1941, leaving their Spitfire Mk.IIb aircraft behind to receive old war weary Mk.Is for training purposes. RF-K was

flown by A Flight leader F/Lt Kolaczkowski, who was later No. 303 Squadron Leader from November 21st, 1941 to May 7th, 1942. The

name ‘Vojtek’ is Kolaczkowski´s nickname and the name ‘Krysia’ was the nickname of his girlfriend Kristina. It is not known with certainty

if these inscriptions were painted on the right side as well. No. 303 Squadron returned to Norholt on October 7th, 1941 to be re-armed

with the new Spitfire Mk.Vb and engaged the new German Fw 190As in intense combat on the other side of the Channel.

INFO Eduard - October 2020

eduard

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