JensOle
October 19th, 2010, 06:57
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<o:p>One of the most unusual markings to be seen on a Spitfire in the European theatre during the closing months of World War II was on Spitfire LF Mk. IXe, PV181, of the Norwegian ace W/Cdr Rolf Arne Berg. Rolf Arne Berg’s career was closely tied with No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron, with which he served from 1941. In the period preceding the invasion of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, Berg took the leadership of No. 132<SUP>nd</SUP> (Norwegian) Wing of the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF. Rolf Arne Berg was by many considered to be one of the best Norwegian Spitfire pilots and he enjoyed high respect as a commander.<o:p></o:p>
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http://www.spitfirepilots.com/berg.html (http://www.spitfirepilots.com/berg.html)<o:p></o:p>
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As part of the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF, the No. 132 wing participated in the <st1:State w:st="on">Normandy</st1:State> landings and the following campaign across <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:City w:st="on">Holland</st1:City> and into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region></st1:place>. During the entire period, beside his commanding duties Berg flew continuously on operations. Rumors said that he had flown more sorties than anyone else in the entire 2nd TAF! In early February 1945 Bergs tour had ended, but he wanted to fly one last combat mission. This decision proved to be fatal, during a low level strafing attack on the Luftwaffe airfield at Eelde in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Holland</st1:place></st1:City>, his aircraft was hit by Flak. Berg’s Spitfire was reported to have lost a wing and then went down, out of control. The he was killed instantly as the aircraft hit a farmhouse.<o:p></o:p>
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Berg’s personal aircraft was PV181, a Spitfire LF Mk. IXE with broad-chord rudder. As Wing Commander, Berg was entitled to carry personal markings on his aircraft. Indeed, his own initials were used instead of the regular squadron codes, but Berg went beyond the regulations. He added Norwegian national markings on the wings and rudder, the standard Norwegian sqns flag band on the spinner together with standard RAF fuselage roundel and lower fuselage D-Day stripes. <o:p></o:p>
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Interestingly, it is almost certain that Berg never got any official approval for replacing the RAF roundels on the wings. The Norwegian units’ morale and desire to fly again under the Norwegian colours must have played the part in his decision to have the RNoAF national markings applied to the wings and rudder of his Spitfire. He then made an official request to the RAF for authorization to paint all the Norwegian Spitfires in a similar fashion. He argued that the French squadrons in the RAF already had been allowed national markings. However, the Air Ministry did not approve of the proposal and ordered Berg to remove his “personal” national markings. In early January 1945 PV181 was reverted back to something representing a standard 2nd TAF scheme, albeit still something of a rarity with C1 roundels (same type as used on the fuselage) on both top/bottom of the wings and a black spinner.<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8692.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8752.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8812.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9002.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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<o:p>One of the most unusual markings to be seen on a Spitfire in the European theatre during the closing months of World War II was on Spitfire LF Mk. IXe, PV181, of the Norwegian ace W/Cdr Rolf Arne Berg. Rolf Arne Berg’s career was closely tied with No. 331 (Norwegian) Squadron, with which he served from 1941. In the period preceding the invasion of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, Berg took the leadership of No. 132<SUP>nd</SUP> (Norwegian) Wing of the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF. Rolf Arne Berg was by many considered to be one of the best Norwegian Spitfire pilots and he enjoyed high respect as a commander.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://www.spitfirepilots.com/berg.html (http://www.spitfirepilots.com/berg.html)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
As part of the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF, the No. 132 wing participated in the <st1:State w:st="on">Normandy</st1:State> landings and the following campaign across <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>, <st1:City w:st="on">Holland</st1:City> and into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region></st1:place>. During the entire period, beside his commanding duties Berg flew continuously on operations. Rumors said that he had flown more sorties than anyone else in the entire 2nd TAF! In early February 1945 Bergs tour had ended, but he wanted to fly one last combat mission. This decision proved to be fatal, during a low level strafing attack on the Luftwaffe airfield at Eelde in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Holland</st1:place></st1:City>, his aircraft was hit by Flak. Berg’s Spitfire was reported to have lost a wing and then went down, out of control. The he was killed instantly as the aircraft hit a farmhouse.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Berg’s personal aircraft was PV181, a Spitfire LF Mk. IXE with broad-chord rudder. As Wing Commander, Berg was entitled to carry personal markings on his aircraft. Indeed, his own initials were used instead of the regular squadron codes, but Berg went beyond the regulations. He added Norwegian national markings on the wings and rudder, the standard Norwegian sqns flag band on the spinner together with standard RAF fuselage roundel and lower fuselage D-Day stripes. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Interestingly, it is almost certain that Berg never got any official approval for replacing the RAF roundels on the wings. The Norwegian units’ morale and desire to fly again under the Norwegian colours must have played the part in his decision to have the RNoAF national markings applied to the wings and rudder of his Spitfire. He then made an official request to the RAF for authorization to paint all the Norwegian Spitfires in a similar fashion. He argued that the French squadrons in the RAF already had been allowed national markings. However, the Air Ministry did not approve of the proposal and ordered Berg to remove his “personal” national markings. In early January 1945 PV181 was reverted back to something representing a standard 2nd TAF scheme, albeit still something of a rarity with C1 roundels (same type as used on the fuselage) on both top/bottom of the wings and a black spinner.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8692.jpg<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8752.jpg<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot8812.jpg<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9002.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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