Spitfire MK Ia - DW-K BoB (Airfix 1/72)

[ArmouredSprue]

Hi all!

Starting a new project today, the new tooling Airfix 1/72 Spitfire MK I.

Another out of the box building.

Some researches I did has shown that DW code was used by No. 610 Sq, County of Chester.
No. 610 Squadron was formed at Hooton Park in Cheshire, in February 1936, as a bomber unit. In January l939 it re-mustered as a fighter squadron and in October 1939, moved to R.A.F. Station, Wittering, Northants. Spring of the following year brought a move for the Squadron to Scotland, but its sojourn here was brief. A month later the Germans invaded the Low Countries and the Squadron rushed to the South for air operations covering the evacuation from Dunkirk. The squadron was dismantled in 1957.

The squadron badge:

Back to the model, I have a few questions in regards this version.
There were a few MK I airframes that carried the DW-K code, namely: N3289, P9495, X4067 and X4102.
The Airfix decal brings the registration for P9495.
The N3289 was lost during Dunkirk operations and probably was replaced by P9495 since "P9495 Mk1a – Arrived at 610 Squadron early June 1940. Flown as DW-K throughout June and July. Damaged in fight with 109 on 12.8.40 a/c written off".
Interestingly we have this photo:

Tactics had clearly changed, as evidenced by the famous air-air photograph featuring L1043 DW-O and P9495 DW-K. Often this is cited as a 'Battle of Britain' image but it was in fact taken in June. While the three aircraft in the foreground of the picture are in a traditional 'vic' it should be noted that the rest of the squadron is in a loose staggered formation with sections of three aircraft in line astern.

These other photos show DW-K during BoB time:

Note that there is not registration number on the fuselage (at least is not appearing).

Then there is this profile:

Showing the X4067, that was probably a replacement for P9495 that was lost in 12/08/40, the caption date says 24/8/40 which is the day this airframe was lost according to this information here: 24/8/40 (Biggin Hill): An epic engagement against 109s in the morning sees heavy damage inflicted on 610. Sgt A.J. Arnfield broke an ankle after baling out, airframe DW-S (R6686) crashed in flames. Pilot Officer DE.S. Aldous was unhurt when DW-X (R6641) sustained repairable combat damage. Pilot Officer D. McI. Gray is wounded, airframe DW-K (X4067) a write-off after crash-landing. Pilot Officer C. Merrick wounded, airframe DW-D write-off after crash-landing. However, Sgt Hamlyn of 610 Squadron records 5 confirmed victories in this action – the first RAF pilot ever to do so! In the afternoon a second scramble for the surviving aircraft sees 610 join 151 and 501 Squadrons attack an incoming raid of Ju88s with 109 escort – raid broken up without loss. The profile then is the replacement for the X4067, making it the last MKI with DW-K code.

My questions:
- Does P9495 registration appears on the fuselage? By the photos I would say no!
- Does this aircraft have the yellow losange on the upper left wing? (the gas indication?) I could not find a photo to corroborate this and Airfix has not included it on the decal sheet.

Here is what I did so far:

Cheers!

Paulo

 

[fubar57]

Nice history Paulo.

Geo

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Nice history Paulo.

Geo

Thanks mate!

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff.
Most of the airborne shots were taken on the same sortie, attributed variously between June and July 1940, some book captions stating over Kent, some over the Thames Estuary, and some over Gravesend. The details of roundel placements and sizes (not including the over-size codes of this Squadron), give the clue that this sequence of photos had to be after early June but anywhere between early and late July.
In the various shots of the formation, and with 'K' in particular, the censor of the period erased the serial number, although Squadron and other records, plus some un-doctored photos, confirm the serial number at that time.
Many captions state that this is '610 Sqn, Royal Auxiliary Air Force', which is incorrect. All of the '600' series Squadrons were part of the reserve known as the 'Auxiliary Air Force', a secondary, active reserve of the RAF proper, and the honour title 'Royal' was not bestowed until post war, in recognition of the Sterling service of these Squadrons during WW2, and particularly during the Battle of Britain.
Photos of this formation, and 'DW-K' in particular, are some of the most widely used images of the BoB, although this Squadron served throughout WW2, and was heavily engaged during the BoB, and right through the ETO campaigns with various Marks of Spitfire, being one of the mainstay units deployed against the V1 'Flying Bomb', using Spitfire MkXIVs, in 1944, before being disbanded in March 1945, only to be re-formed, in November 1946, with Spitfire F14s, and later F22s.
These were eventually replaced by Meteor F4s in 1951, and then Meteor F8s in 1952 until 10 March 1957, when the Squadron, and the whole R.Aux.AF disbanded totally.
All of the 'Auxiliary' squadrons were either 'County', or 'City' squadrons, their personnel originally drawn from the relevant County or City for which they were named and where they were formed.
It just so happens that '610, County of Chester' squadron is now my 'local' Squadron, as I've resided in the County of Cheshire for many years now - my 'real' local, 'home' Squadron, however, from my place of birth, and where I grew up, would be 607 'County of Durham' Squadron.

 

[A4K]

Nice project Paulo, looking forward to this!

 

[Wurger]

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Good stuff.
Most of the airborne shots were taken on the same sortie, attributed variously between June and July 1940, some book captions stating over Kent, some over the Thames Estuary, and some over Gravesend. The details of roundel placements and sizes (not including the over-size codes of this Squadron), give the clue that this sequence of photos had to be after early June but anywhere between early and late July.
In the various shots of the formation, and with 'K' in particular, the censor of the period erased the serial number, although Squadron and other records, plus some un-doctored photos, confirm the serial number at that time.
Many captions state that this is '610 Sqn, Royal Auxiliary Air Force', which is incorrect. All of the '600' series Squadrons were part of the reserve known as the 'Auxiliary Air Force', a secondary, active reserve of the RAF proper, and the honour title 'Royal' was not bestowed until post war, in recognition of the Sterling service of these Squadrons during WW2, and particularly during the Battle of Britain.
Photos of this formation, and 'DW-K' in particular, are some of the most widely used images of the BoB, although this Squadron served throughout WW2, and was heavily engaged during the BoB, and right through the ETO campaigns with various Marks of Spitfire, being one of the mainstay units deployed against the V1 'Flying Bomb', using Spitfire MkXIVs, in 1944, before being disbanded in March 1945, only to be re-formed, in November 1946, with Spitfire F14s, and later F22s.
These were eventually replaced by Meteor F4s in 1951, and then Meteor F8s in 1952 until 10 March 1957, when the Squadron, and the whole R.Aux.AF disbanded totally.
All of the 'Auxiliary' squadrons were either 'County', or 'City' squadrons, their personnel originally drawn from the relevant County or City for which they were named and where they were formed.
It just so happens that '610, County of Chester' squadron is now my 'local' Squadron, as I've resided in the County of Cheshire for many years now - my 'real' local, 'home' Squadron, however, from my place of birth, and where I grew up, would be 607 'County of Durham' Squadron.

Good stuff mate! Thanks for clarifying the registration display.
What about the gas warning Big yellow losange sticker on the upper left wing? Does this plane had it or not?
Thanks!

 

[Airframes]

Difficult to say. Officially, all aircraft were supposed to carry the gas detection panel, but period photos show that this was not the case, particularly later in the BoB, when replacement aircraft arrived on squadrons, and when the gas threat was perhaps seen as less likely. Similar panels were mounted on posts at points around airfields and military installations.
Personally, for that particular aircraft and during that specific period, I think I would include it.

 

[A4K]

Terry's on the case again! We would be lost without you here mate!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Cheers Evan - nice of you to say so!

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Difficult to say. Officially, all aircraft were supposed to carry the gas detection panel, but period photos show that this was not the case, particularly later in the BoB, when replacement aircraft arrived on squadrons, and when the gas threat was perhaps seen as less likely. Similar panels were mounted on posts at points around airfields and military installations.
Personally, for that particular aircraft and during that specific period, I think I would include it.

Thanks Terry!
Much appreciated.
The gas warining was just a yellow square (losange) or there were an outline to it?
Cheers

 

[Crimea_River]

Great info guys. Possibly a red outline on the lozenge - Terry will no doubt confirm.

 

[fubar57]

Were the patches always yellow? I built an RCAF, B.C. based P-40 and the decal sheet stated light blue. As Andy's photo shows, I've only seen the yellow patch.

Geo

 

[A4K]

Only seen yellow myself Geo. Maybe misinterpretation of a B/W photo?

 

[Airframes]

Yep, plain yellow, no outline normally.
The photo may be a contrast aberration. But, the squares were normally reactive paint, although a 'patch' might have been taped in place in some instances, which might be what appears to be showing in the photo, as a 'true' period representation. The tape used was the old,black fabric tape, the forerunner of what we now know as 'Gaffer' tape or 'Duct/Duck' tape.
The yellow often had a very feint green tinge, due to atmospheric effects, and worked in a similar way to litmus paper, changing colour, or staining, if gas was present.

 

[ArmouredSprue]

Yep, plain yellow, no outline normally.
The photo may be a contrast aberration. But, the squares were normally reactive paint, although a 'patch' might have been taped in place in some instances, which might be what appears to be showing in the photo, as a 'true' period representation. The tape used was the old,black fabric tape, the forerunner of what we now know as 'Gaffer' tape or 'Duct/Duck' tape.
The yellow often had a very feint green tinge, due to atmospheric effects, and worked in a similar way to litmus paper, changing colour, or staining, if gas was present.

Thanks again!

Do you know what size it should be?
Cheers

 

[A4K]

Terry will be able to confirm or deny, but my impression is the sizes varied, atleast between aircraft types, and possibly between individual aircraft too (..?)

 

[Wayne Little]

missed this one, look forward to the progress...

 

[Airframes]

The panel was directed to be "Approximately 18 inches square", positioned to the rear of center chord, on the port wing only, at 6 feet 6 inches from the aircraft center line (9 feet 6 inches on the Hurricane). The same size was used on other aircraft, such as the Harvard, Tiger Moth and Anson, but normally located on the rear fuselage, or fuselage spine, forming a 'diamond', which could appear to be larger than it actually was due to the shape and surrounding area.