Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
I saw this picture of a captured RAF Spitfire I have never seen this particular captured aircraft before I went online to discover some details on this Spitfire but found no information. It looks like a RAF PR (photo-reconnaissance) Spitfire Mk 8 are the squadron markings on the Spitire the original RAF markings or are they a luftwaffe experimental units own markings.
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Hello!
Best regards, Aleks
I think they are German. IIRC, RAF used three-letter code markings, e.g. JF (roundel) E.stig1958 wrote:are the squadron markings on the Spitire the original RAF markings or are they a luftwaffe experimental units own markings.
Best regards, Aleks
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Info according LEMB:
Coded T9+EK of 2/Versuchsverband Ob.d.L possibly Mk.IX of No.412 Squadron piloted by P/O CW Glithero.
T9 is from Luftwaffe unit
regards
MadderCat
Coded T9+EK of 2/Versuchsverband Ob.d.L possibly Mk.IX of No.412 Squadron piloted by P/O CW Glithero.
T9 is from Luftwaffe unit
regards
MadderCat
- Sewer King
- Member
- Posts: 1711
- Joined: 18 Feb 2004, 05:35
- Location: northern Virginia
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Painting-out of the original RAF letters is visible around the "EK."AVV wrote:Hello!I think they are German. IIRC, RAF used three-letter code markings, e.g. JF (roundel) E.stig1958 wrote:are the squadron markings on the Spitire the original RAF markings or are they a luftwaffe experimental units own markings.
The tail is probably painted a bright gold-yellow. Didn't the Luftwaffe often paint some other surfaces of captured planes this same color, along with the typical oversized crosses?
Is the rest of the plane re-finished in dark green, since the RAF two-tone camo pattern is not evident?
-- Alan
- phylo_roadking
- Member
- Posts: 17488
- Joined: 01 May 2006, 00:31
- Location: Belfast
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Yep, same as the British did with their P-badged prototypes, training aircraft etc....so that enthusiastic Ack Ack gunners down below, seeing an unfamiliar shape, didn't react as they were trained to do.....The tail is probably painted a bright gold-yellow. Didn't the Luftwaffe often paint some other surfaces of captured planes this same color, along with the typical oversized crosses?
Twenty years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs....
Lord, please keep Kevin Bacon alive...
Lord, please keep Kevin Bacon alive...
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
I don’t think this particular Spitfire is the captured IX of 412 RCAF sqn, the shape of the tail is wrong for a Spitfire IX, I still think it’s a PR Spitfire VII or XI with the pointed tail, the IX had a more rounded tail?
-
- Member
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 19:59
- Location: Gloucester
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Some Mk IXs got the pointy fin/rudder. Spitfire: The History shows many examples.
The lack of guns would make the the a/c a PR XI, not a IX or VIII. The deep cowling under the nose was used on PR XIs. Note also the lack of armoured windscreen.
The lack of guns would make the the a/c a PR XI, not a IX or VIII. The deep cowling under the nose was used on PR XIs. Note also the lack of armoured windscreen.
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
I agree. The aircraft is a PR Spitfire, though I'm not sure of the exact model.
You can't really see whether it has guns or not, but there's definitely no armoured windscreen - there isn't even a rear-view mirror.
As a final clincher against the IX theory, look at the left hand edge of the fuselage cross insignia. There's a faint round shape depression there, with a horizonal bar shape above it. This looks very like the camera port on the PR XI profile above. The IX fuselage doesn't have a round shape panel in that position.
You can't really see whether it has guns or not, but there's definitely no armoured windscreen - there isn't even a rear-view mirror.
As a final clincher against the IX theory, look at the left hand edge of the fuselage cross insignia. There's a faint round shape depression there, with a horizonal bar shape above it. This looks very like the camera port on the PR XI profile above. The IX fuselage doesn't have a round shape panel in that position.
-
- Member
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 09 Oct 2007, 19:59
- Location: Gloucester
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Tim, there are more photos on the LEMB board.
- Mark in Cleveland, Tn.
- Member
- Posts: 5761
- Joined: 27 Jul 2004, 02:30
- Location: Cleveland ,tennessee
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
These 2 books are kind of good, not very detailed, but interesting
- Mark in Cleveland, Tn.
- Member
- Posts: 5761
- Joined: 27 Jul 2004, 02:30
- Location: Cleveland ,tennessee
- miroslav_cavic
- Member
- Posts: 6
- Joined: 02 Jun 2010, 22:43
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
GooD God, excellent!
- miroslav_cavic
- Member
- Posts: 6
- Joined: 02 Jun 2010, 22:43
Re: Luftwaffe Spitfire Identity
Excellent British machine! Bravo!