Early Spitfires???

[planecrazy]

I realise the whole Spitfire model and mark thing is quite complex, was just
looking at some old pic's I snapped and realise there is quite a few features
of the two following machines that are sort of unusual.

The grey/green colours, both are reported to be in original paint, I’m guessing
not all the early models where in the more commonly seen brown/green scheme,
or maybe they got repaints?

The Mark Ia with the Imperial War Museum in London.





Link to her story. Is credited with three victories
www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-r6915.html

Australian War memorial Mk IIa also grey/green interesting machine as it has a
MkV prop and also has a larger rounded oil cooler? Have seen this type of oil
cooler fitted on earlier models in other pictures. Most early models had the semi
circular shaped oil coolers, wonder if the prop and oil cooler where fitted later in
her life? She flew with an RAAF Squadron in 1941 which seems a little late for such
an early mark, credited with a victory flown by Australian Ace “Bluey” Truscott.

She is quite difficult to get pic’s of as she is up high.



Link to her story.
www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1117411?image=2

[nuuumannn]

Nov 11, 2022 14:41:43 GMT 12 planecrazy said:

I realise the whole Spitfire model and mark thing is quite complex, was just
looking at some old pic's I snapped and realise there is quite a few features
of the two following machines that are sort of unusual.

The grey/green colours, both are reported to be in original paint, I’m guessing
not all the early models where in the more commonly seen brown/green scheme,
or maybe they got repaints?

Australian War memorial Mk IIa also grey/green interesting machine as it has a
MkV prop and also has a larger rounded oil cooler? Have seen this type of oil
cooler fitted on earlier models in other pictures. Most early models had the semi
circular shaped oil coolers, wonder if the prop and oil cooler where fitted later in
her life?

A brief attempt at answering the questions that you've asked, Planecrazy. Firstly, regarding the colour schemes of the two Spitfires, yes, the aircraft got repainted. The Dark Sea Grey replacing the Dark Earth and Type C roundels replacing the earlier type as applied in 1940 were introduced in 1942. Both the IWM's R6915 and AWM's P7973 were operated as training aircraft following their squadron service, both of them served with 61 OTU according to the records, but at different times. The former is displayed in a generic scheme without unit markings, whereas P7973 wears its codes from when it was with the Central Gunnery School at Catfoss in 1944.

As for the differences in oil cooler and propeller on P7973, it appears as if the aircraft might have had a change of engine at some stage or another. The Mk.V characteristics are apparent in the bigger oil cooler, which was altered to supply the Merlin 45 and Rotol C/S prop as fitted to Mk.Vs. The Rotol prop with the broad chord blades was originally designed for the Spitfire Mk.III, which was to be powered by the Merlin 45, but it never entered production, and that engine was sequestered for fitting to Mk.II airframes on production lines with subsequent alterations, which were redesignated Mk.Vs. Those props were fitted to Spits from mid to late 1941 onwards that were built at Castle Bromwich, Supermarine-built Vs had DH props, although later the use of DH props decreased on Spitfires altogether. I hope this helps.