315sq

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Yes, there is quite a bit of vegetation, but then it was Tunisia, and I think near the coastal region, so a bit more 'lush' than the landing grounds of the Western Desert. Plenty of hiding places for those nasty scorpions!
 
I have it in my head that 145 Squadron's A Flight had red codes while B Flight had blue (dark), but I cannot find anything that confirms this.

The Polish Fighting Team, aka Skalski's Circus by the press and always called the Polish Combat Team in Air Ministry and RAF correspondence, was assigned to 145 Squadron as C Flight or The Polish Spitfire Flight for administrative and logistical purposes only. The flight was fully independent and received its orders directly from 244 Wing of the Desert Air Force. They used the same codes, ZX, as 145 Squadron but individual aircraft were identified by numerals instead of letters. The colour was a medium blue, possibly lighter than used by 145 Squadron. Initially they were equipped with Spitfire Mk Vb and Vcs but soon after requesting better equipment they were replaced by Spitfire Mk IXcs, some of the first of that mark to arrive in N. Africa. They were all early production Mk IXs with short carburettor intakes and Mk V type tail planes. First to arrive were EN459 '1', EN247 '2', EN361 '3', EN313 '4', EN267 '5', EN315 '6'. The next day EN268 '7', EN286 '8', EN300 '9', EN261 '10'. The last did not have its codes painted until almost the end of the tour. Later deliveries were EN355 '0', EN462 '1', EN457 '4'. The last two were replacements for damaged aircraft.

EN459 was built by Supermarine and fist flew at Eastleigh late January 1943. Shipped to N Africa it saw first use with the Polish Combat Team by 23rd March 1943. On 28th March S/Ldr Skalski opened the units score shooting down a Ju 88 over Sfax, On 2nd April Skalski again used EN459 to score a Me 109. On 6th April Horbaczewski downed a Me 109 but EN459 suffered serious damage and caught fire. Unable to bail out and the fire extinguishing itself, Horbaczewski glided into Gabes where the Spitfire was left for repair. Later sent back to 145 Squadron it never saw service again with the Polish Combat Team.

The colour photograph was taken at Gabes whilst EN459 was undergoing repair. The desert scheme of Dark Earth and Middle Stone was sprayed over the original Ocean Grey and Dark Green camouflage which can be seen on the area normally covered by the wing root fillet. Ocean Grey was also left on the aerial mast. The dielectric base was left unpainted. There is a soft edge around the national markings. The serial number is repeated on the rudder tab in a dark blue colour, not black. Something decal manufactures always manages to leave out. The expert opinion is that the under surfaces were painted Light Mediterranean Blue, not Azure Blue.
 

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EN549 in late 1943, having become HN*D of 93 Squadron. The Middle Stone areas have been painted over in a darker colour, most likely Dark Green. On 15th October 143 Flt Lt 'Hap' Kennedy used EN459 to down a Bf 109 in Italy.
 

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Hello,
I continue this old post regarding 315 Sqn because I'm looking for an information about E. Horbaczewski and his 1,5 victory on 30 July 1944.
I would like to know if it was with Mustang III FB382 or FB387 ?
In my books I found 2 informations:
- FB382 replaced FB166 on 16 June and FB387 replaced FB382 early in August => So, the escort mission over Norway on 30 July wasn't possible with FB387...
- FB382 replaced FB166 on 16 June and FB387 replaced FB382 on 28 July => And the escort mission over Norway on 30 July was possible with FB387...

Both are well documented (FB382 is often confused with FB166) and we can see 12 victories on FB382 and 13,5 victories + 4 V-1 painted between 1 and 3 August on FB387...

Anybody to enlighten me ? :)
 
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