Mk 1's on D-Day?

[Wing Nut]

I was picking up another airplane that I found incredibly cheap, when I noticed it was a Spitfire Mk 1 but with D-Day stripes.  I didn't think any were left flying that late in the war.  Anyone know?

Kevin

[ozzy72]

There weren't any MkIs still in front-line service by D-Day Kevin. They'd have been upgraded to MkIIs and thence to MkVs at the least.
Hmm, maybe the model is meant to cover models up to the MkV? Does it have the two or three bladed prop?

Mark

[Felix/FFDS]

Possibly some may have still been in use in an OTU, and painted in invasion stripes for safety's sake?

[Hagar]

Most of the Mk Is were converted with the 3-bladed prop during the BoB.

The first 77 Mk Is had a two-bladed, fixed-pitch Watts propeller. Subsequent aircraft received three-bladed, two-position de Havilland or Rotol airscrews, with fine pitch for take-off and coarse pitch for cruising, and these were subsequently retro-fitted to the earlier aircraft.

Some of these found their way to conversion units & used for training throughout WWII. I doubt they would have been painted with D-Day stripes.

Maybe that's why the model was cheap. You guys over the Pond seem to like those awful stripes for some unknown reason.

[ozzy72]

Well I have to say on MkIXs they do look rather natty Felix Now on an Me-109 they'd look a tad silly

[Felix/FFDS]

Maybe that's why the model was cheap. You guys over the Pond seem to like those awful stripes for some unknown reason.

and that's why the French painted a Mirage with invasion stripes thisyear, right?

Oh, they're across the Eastern pond from you.

[ozzy72]

If a French plane appeared over Hungarian airspace with invasion markings it'd be shot down quickly!
The Hungarians still haven't forgiven the French for the Treaty of Triannon after WWI Grudges huh?

[HawkerTempest5]

Spit IIs were being used in an air sea rescue roll for quite a time after they were removed from front line fighter duties but I don't think any remained in this roll by D-Day as the MkV was being used for these kind of jobs. Some OTU aircraft had invasion stripes however so maybe this is what it is. What are its code letters?

[Felix/FFDS]

If a French plane appeared over Hungarian airspace with invasion markings it'd be shot down quickly!
The Hungarians still haven't forgiven the French for the Treaty of Triannon after WWI Grudges huh?

"The 4 June 1920 Treaty of Triannon relieved Hungary of 70% of its territory and 60% of its population. Needless to say, the Hungarians felt this to be a tragedy.
"

[Wing Nut]

Well this one has a three blade prop, and the three port exhaust manifolds.

[ozzy72]

Probably an admin error then Kevin and meant to be a MkV. So it was probably as Roger said in the SAR role.

Mark