Strana 83
W3774, P/O William V. Crawford-Compton, No. 485 Squadron, RAF Kenley,
United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942
P8537, Sgt Jaroslav Hloužek, No. 313 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch,
United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942
One of the RAF’s most successful pilots was New
Zealander William Vernon Crawford-Compton.
He joined the RAF in 1939 as a mechanic, and
was subsequently accepted for flight training,
which he completed in 1940. After spells with
Nos. 485 and 611 Sqn. he took command of
No. 64 Sqn. in late 1942 and led it until the end of
March the following year. After a period of staff
duties, he became Commander of Hornchurch
Fighter Wing in mid-1943 and led it until the
end of the year. After his tour of operations,
he lectured for three months in the United
States on RAF operations. He returned to active
service as commander of No. 145 Wing. After
the war he held senior posts in the RAF, retiring
as Air vice-marshal at the end of 1968. He died
in January 1988 at the age of 72. He achieved
22 kills, four probable and he also damaged
a further 13 aircraft. The Spitfire W3774 was his
first personal aircraft, and he achieved four kills
flying it. It had a drawing of a burning swastika
on the left side under the cockpit and a pan
with Hitler’s head above it. The left side of the
tank cover was decorated with the inscription
Auckland 1 “Waiuku”. On the right side under
the cockpit was a Samson donation sign. W3774
was given a new livery effective August 16, 1941.
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 Sky band
was repainted with a new shade of Medium Sea
Grey on the lower surfaces.
Spitfire Mk.Vb P8537 served operationally
with No. 313 Squadron from November 2, 1941,
to March 28, 1942. The most frequent pilots in
its cockpit were Sgt J. Hloužek, F/L K. Vykoukal
and F/S K. Foglar. The figure of Horace the
Horse was painted on this Spitfire by Sgt Karel
Pavlík, a Pilsen native, letter painter and author
of all drawings on Spitfires of No. 313 Squadron.
The figure was a bit of mystery for many years,
as only half of the drawing was known from
photographs. It was until two uncut photographs
emerged from the archive of mechanic F/O Karl
Beinhauer and helped to solve the appearance
of the other half. Spitfire P8537 had been
repainted in the new camouflage shades in effect
from August 16, 1941. Surviving photographs
document the complete change of the Spitfire’s
camouflage. A very light shade of Mixed Grey
was used in place of the original Dark Earth,
and a Sky Blue band was repainted with a new
shade of Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces.
The code letters RY
-
Z were in the Sky Blue shade,
as were the spinner and band in front of the tail.
OVERTREES
#70205X
Spitfire Mk.Vb
early
1/72
OVERLEPT
#70205-LEPT1
Spitfire Mk.Vb
early
1/72
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KITS 12/2025
INFO Eduard
83
December 2025