lookingforspitfire photo

Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:44 pm

Does anyone know if any images exist of Spitfire Vb AB910 as flown by Don Gentile and Don Blakeslee with the Eagle Squadrons.
Any help appreciated.
Gary

Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:37 pm

I'm not sure what you mean by "as flown by Don Gentile and Don Blakeslee".

Do you mean the temporary scheme that was applied in 1997 for the USAF 50th anniversary airshow at Nellis?

Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:45 pm

Might be something here.
http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=5

This is interesting.
http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=0

Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:06 pm

Here is AB910 in the markings of 71 Eagle Squadron on 3 March 1997 at Audley End, UK. This was the first flight post major maintenance and repaint, prior to temporary shipment to the US by the RAF.

PeterA

Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:58 pm

The information I have is that AB910 was flown both by Blakeslee on training sorties and Gentile on 2 Dieppe sorties. I have been told that no photo has surfaced that shows this aircraft from 1942. What is the 1997 paint scheme based on? Is it accurate as XR-A? I hope to have a profile painted of it as it appeared over Dieppe. Thanks again for your help.
Gary

Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:43 am

gary wrote:The information I have is that AB910 was flown both by Blakeslee on training sorties and Gentile on 2 Dieppe sorties. I have been told that no photo has surfaced that shows this aircraft from 1942. What is the 1997 paint scheme based on? Is it accurate as XR-A? I hope to have a profile painted of it as it appeared over Dieppe. Thanks again for your help.
Gary

At the time of the Dieppe raid 19th August 1942, AB910 was on strength 133 Squadron. True, no photographs have surfaced but the aircraft is reported to have been coded MD-E.

Here are a couple of shots taken at RAF Coningsby in May 1992. Apart from the gloss finish the markings are representative of the livery of the period. The Eagle Squadron logo may well be speculative.

Perhaps if you are embarking on artwork profiles, a trawl for period shots of any 133 squadron Mk V could refine the proportions of the code letters.

PeterA

Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:29 am

Peter
I knew if anybody had a pic of this spitfire it would be you.
Regards
Mike

Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:24 pm

http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/cpg132/di ... at=0&pos=7

Any way to verify if this combat report is in fact AB910?

Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:45 pm

Thanks so much for your help with this query.
Cheers
Gary

Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:28 am

Gary

A trawl of 133 Squadron images coded MD and also the transition to 336th FS, using the same aircraft, the code M is styled with the central vee reaching the mid point rather than the baseline as in the AB910 shots I posted.

Peter

Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:28 pm

Peter,
Do you feel confident that the MD-E code on the Coningsby example are correct for AB910? Any idea of the information source the RAF based this on?
Thanks for all the information and photos.
Gary

Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:35 am

gary wrote:Peter,
Do you feel confident that the MD-E code on the Coningsby example are correct for AB910? Any idea of the information source the RAF based this on?
Thanks for all the information and photos.
Gary

Gary,

I feel confident. Looking at my records I see that respected historian and writer Les Hunt advised me back in the early 1970's that AB910 was MD-E and had been flown by Squadron Leader Nelson.

That is not 100% because I have not personally seen the source, photograph or log entry, but this was well before BBMF repainted the aircraft.

At the time of the repaint of AB910 as MD-E , April 1991, the BBMF were advised by the late Campbell Gunston on historic matters. It is reasonable to assume his research would have confirmed the code.

Attached is an illustration of the code, and that 'M', but on a Mk Vb with the earlier A.1 roundel pre May 1942.

Peter

Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:31 pm

Peter,
again, thanks so much for your help. When my project is done I will send a image of it.
Cheers
Gary