JensOle
November 21st, 2010, 03:46
A few more Norwegian Spitfire repaints for the Realair Spitfire are ready to be uploaded. A danish PR.XI is also included.
Spitfire IXe, PV181 – RAB<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Back to Wing Commander Rolf Arne Berg’s specially painted Spitfire IX coded RAB (serial PV181). The RAF did not approve of his Norwegian flag colour stripes on the wings and rudder of his aircraft and 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. This was supposed to be the new standard for the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF, but it remained the sole Spitfire painted in this way in the wartime RAF. The black spinner was though something which was to be seen on several Spitfires of the 132<SUP>nd</SUP> Wing.<o:p></o:p>
This repaint shows the final paint scheme of Bergs PV181 as it looked on 3 February when he was shot down and killed by FLAK during a low level attack on the German airfield at Eelde. As previously mentioned, his tour was officially ended and he was on his way back to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but he wanted to take part in one more combat mission before leaving the wing. This proved to be fatal and his death was a big loss to the small Norwegian Air Force.<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10572.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10692.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10752.jpg
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Spitfire IXe, MJ931 – FN-L<o:p></o:p>
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MJ931 ”FN-L” from 331 sqn is depicted both as it looked during the homecoming flight (flagstripes on the rudder) to Norway in May 1945 and with newly applied flagstripes around the fuselage in the summer of 1945. The serial number was partly overpainted.<o:p></o:p>
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The aircraft was later coded A-AI and was in 1947 involved in a take off collision with A-AU. Both aircraft were badly damaged and were later scrapped.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9732.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9172.jpg
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Spitfire IXe, PT882 – FN-K<o:p></o:p>
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PT882 ”FN-K” from 331 sqn as it looked in early 46 with crudely overpainted British roundels. Norwegian wing roundels are in same size as RAF C roundel, but fuselage side roundels are smaller. A small Norwegian flag is painted under the cockpit. <o:p></o:p>
The aircraft later got the code A-AH and was in 1949 involved in an landing accident at Kjevik and was later written off. PT882 had at the time 202 flight hours.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/scrshot10362.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9902.jpg
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Spitfire IXe JL361 - A-CD<o:p></o:p>
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Spitfire IXe JL361 was not part of the batch of Norwegian Spitfires which were taken on charge in the spring of 1945 before the return flight to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Norway</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but was taken over first in 1947 as one of the aircraft destined for the planned 3rd fighter squadron. Due to several reasons, including funding and manpower shortage, this squadron never materialized and JL361 entered service with 331 Sqn in 1948 coded A-CD. This code was in compliance to the new RNoAF aircraft coding system of 1946 which was to replace the RAF wartime squadron codes. This system consisted of one aircraft type letter (A for Spitfire) and two individual aircraft letter codes regardless of the squadron (in JL361s' case, CD). This new system was not popular with the squadrons and during 1951 the old squadron codes were reintroduced. JL361 was both used by 331 Sqn as FN-D and later by 332 Sqn as AH-D. It was withdrawn from use in July 1952 with a total 554:40 airframe hours.<o:p></o:p>
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/scrshot11552.jpg<o:p></o:p>
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Spitfire IXe, PV181 – RAB<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Back to Wing Commander Rolf Arne Berg’s specially painted Spitfire IX coded RAB (serial PV181). The RAF did not approve of his Norwegian flag colour stripes on the wings and rudder of his aircraft and 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. This was supposed to be the new standard for the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> TAF, but it remained the sole Spitfire painted in this way in the wartime RAF. The black spinner was though something which was to be seen on several Spitfires of the 132<SUP>nd</SUP> Wing.<o:p></o:p>
This repaint shows the final paint scheme of Bergs PV181 as it looked on 3 February when he was shot down and killed by FLAK during a low level attack on the German airfield at Eelde. As previously mentioned, his tour was officially ended and he was on his way back to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but he wanted to take part in one more combat mission before leaving the wing. This proved to be fatal and his death was a big loss to the small Norwegian Air Force.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10572.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10692.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot10752.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
Spitfire IXe, MJ931 – FN-L<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
MJ931 ”FN-L” from 331 sqn is depicted both as it looked during the homecoming flight (flagstripes on the rudder) to Norway in May 1945 and with newly applied flagstripes around the fuselage in the summer of 1945. The serial number was partly overpainted.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The aircraft was later coded A-AI and was in 1947 involved in a take off collision with A-AU. Both aircraft were badly damaged and were later scrapped.
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9732.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9172.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Spitfire IXe, PT882 – FN-K<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
PT882 ”FN-K” from 331 sqn as it looked in early 46 with crudely overpainted British roundels. Norwegian wing roundels are in same size as RAF C roundel, but fuselage side roundels are smaller. A small Norwegian flag is painted under the cockpit. <o:p></o:p>
The aircraft later got the code A-AH and was in 1949 involved in an landing accident at Kjevik and was later written off. PT882 had at the time 202 flight hours.
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/scrshot10362.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/Scrshot9902.jpg
<o:p></o:p>
Spitfire IXe JL361 - A-CD<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Spitfire IXe JL361 was not part of the batch of Norwegian Spitfires which were taken on charge in the spring of 1945 before the return flight to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Norway</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but was taken over first in 1947 as one of the aircraft destined for the planned 3rd fighter squadron. Due to several reasons, including funding and manpower shortage, this squadron never materialized and JL361 entered service with 331 Sqn in 1948 coded A-CD. This code was in compliance to the new RNoAF aircraft coding system of 1946 which was to replace the RAF wartime squadron codes. This system consisted of one aircraft type letter (A for Spitfire) and two individual aircraft letter codes regardless of the squadron (in JL361s' case, CD). This new system was not popular with the squadrons and during 1951 the old squadron codes were reintroduced. JL361 was both used by 331 Sqn as FN-D and later by 332 Sqn as AH-D. It was withdrawn from use in July 1952 with a total 554:40 airframe hours.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/JensOle/RNoAF/scrshot11552.jpg<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
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