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RAF warbird markings question

Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:32 pm

I was changing out some wall art in my home office today and remembered something I kept meaning to ask about here.
On RAF warbirds, I've seen aircraft with a mark on the tail, sometimes twice on the same side, a plain white square, divided diagonally with "W/T" on it. What does this indicate?

blue skies,
Doug Ratchford

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:49 pm

Wireless Telegraph or Wireless Transmitter

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:34 pm

Not quite. I've always understood it to mean "Wired Throughout".

Courtesy of "Grandfather Spitfire"
"The W/T marking show that the AID ( Aeronautical Inspection Directorate) have verified the electrical bonding of the metal parts. This took the form of wire connections to prevent the build up or sudden discharge of static electricity and the consequent risks of radio interference or fire."

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:53 pm

Thanks, Robbo, 'GFS',

Additionally, (although I'm not 100% on this) the W/T stencil was applied mostly to fabric covered areas, primarily the to the starboard side of the rudder, fin (usually, I think on fabric covered examples like the Hurricane) and on the elevators and aileron underside. Original W.W.II examples (not factory applied, but later) seen here on the underside shots of the IWM's Spitfire Mk.I

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1 ... tfire1.htm

(Scroll down.)

Corrections welcome

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:28 pm

Thanks everyone, that didn't take long. WIX is the place.

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:32 am

Robbo wrote:Not quite. I've always understood it to mean "Wired Throughout".

Courtesy of "Grandfather Spitfire"
"The W/T marking show that the AID ( Aeronautical Inspection Directorate) have verified the electrical bonding of the metal parts. This took the form of wire connections to prevent the build up or sudden discharge of static electricity and the consequent risks of radio interference or fire."

I shall inform the former BBMF engineer who told me that, that he's talking thru his, er, hat ;)

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:41 am

W/T and R/T Wireless (Morse) telegraphy and radio (voice) telegraphy were terms used by the RAF, but not relating to these stencils, AFAIK.

Context matters. ;)

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:36 am

Here are some of the W/T stencils on Peter Teichman's immaculate Hurribomber BE505 based at North Weald

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:49 pm

Yes, that is the marking I was referring to. Could we see some full pix of that very nice looking Hurri?

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:20 am

Image
Image

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:26 pm

YES! Thanks Robbo! Who's doing the cockpit honors in these?

Re: RAF warbird markings question

Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:00 pm

The owner, Peter Teichman
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