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homicidal45 — Treble I's
#duxford #raf #spitfire #ww2
Published: 2016-03-28 11:51:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 282; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 0
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Duxford, Flying Legends..First time three Supermarine Spitfire Mk I's had flown together since..... Well, quite a while!
All did not go as planned as you can see, Spitfire on the right had under carriage issues, while it held formation for a couple of passes, safety issues caused it land early..
It did...
The Black and White Camouflage underneath the one on the left was standard early in the war, it was to help A.A gunners spot Allied aircraft and dazzle enemy aircraft, though I'm not sure how that worked.. Had to be there I expect..
It changed to standard Sky Blue, very quickly..
Rob
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The black and white livery worked exactly the same way as d-day stripes worked, if you see black and white you don't shoot at it. The change to sky undersides came when we were defeated and evacuated from mainland Europe. With no friendly troops in occupied territory there was no need for the identification marks. Not being spotted by enemy aircraft became the main focus of the livery. As you will be aware as we prepared to invade once more, black and white markings were applied once more, though this time as stripes. As for the "dazzle", though I have of course read about various dazzle liveries, particularly used by navy vessels, I have not actually come across the idea that the early black and white belly liveries were also in any way intended for this use.
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Hi, not going to disagree mate don't worry lol No, fully agree with all that just had time issues and could not write much at the time, (must post earlier really).. But I have read in a couple of Magazines (Flypast & others and at least one book) that it was used for type of 'dazzle' effect though not for long, most likely I imagine over France only.. I'll try to track down the book I most likely have it still, not the Mags as I pass them on..Likewise, I knew and have seen dazzle on ships, Belfast has Dazzle I believe? Or at least did at one time..
Thanks for looking in..
Rob
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I suppose dazzle makes it more difficult to see it as an airplane. Your brain might not identify the object and its orientation. Best case: the brain ignores it. Good case: enemy doesn't know where exactly to shoot.
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Seems, the scheme was worn by Hurricanes and Spitfires during mainly The Battle Of France as certain AA gunners (beginning with 'F') would shoot at anything not theirs, so they were added... They were removed very soon after return to the UK..
Ships used 'dazzle' throughout the war of course.
Rob
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Very nice!
I suppose the idea was you're operating the AA gun and you have like, half-a-second to make up your mind whether it's friend or foe. A dash of a dark colour no doubt helped....
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You got it, that scheme was used mainly in France it seems as it was really a shoot first and ask much later affair!
Mainly for French AA gunners I would imagine.
Rob
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Interesting. Yes, and what with aircraft recognition problems, I can see why.
BTW, was that what "invasion stripes" were for as well? I guess it would be.
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Invasion stripes were applied after the complete cock - up during the Sicily Invasion (no stripes)..
AA gunners just shot at anything including shooting down a large number of loaded DC-3s.. Thus stripes were applied so no mess up this time..
Rob
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"No mess, no fuss!" As the advert says. Yes, that's right, I'd forgotten, some Daks were shot down over Sicily. Awful. Thanks for these informational tidbits, I believe one should never stop learning.
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I always try to, may never keep all of it in, but I try lol
Rob
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That's all any of us can do!
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