Hi guys.
I was reading through Osprey's "the legendary spitfire mk i/ii" (Aircraft of the Aces #1) and noticed a photo of a 602 squadron spitfire mk i taken in April 1940, wearing a yellow diamond shaped marking about 1ft x 1ft in size on the left wing upper surface. The caption mentions in passing that this was 'gas sensitive paint' that was there to detect poison gas.
Is this true? If so, was the use of such markings quite common in the RAF? Did many battle of britain period spits wear this marking? Was there a specific time period during which this was applied? Obviously, there are not many photos showing the upper wings of spitfires, maybe this is why I have never noticed these markings before!
Thanks guys!
I was reading through Osprey's "the legendary spitfire mk i/ii" (Aircraft of the Aces #1) and noticed a photo of a 602 squadron spitfire mk i taken in April 1940, wearing a yellow diamond shaped marking about 1ft x 1ft in size on the left wing upper surface. The caption mentions in passing that this was 'gas sensitive paint' that was there to detect poison gas.
Is this true? If so, was the use of such markings quite common in the RAF? Did many battle of britain period spits wear this marking? Was there a specific time period during which this was applied? Obviously, there are not many photos showing the upper wings of spitfires, maybe this is why I have never noticed these markings before!
Thanks guys!