discussion J Johonston's Spit?

[Guest]

Hi all. Can anyone please tell me if Jonny Johonston spit Mk9 had the normal grey/green cammo with no invation marks at some stage before '44 and if he ever used it to chace after doodlebugs?

Thanx

Theuns

 

[stona]

Hi Theuns, Johnson flew two MkIXs. The first and maybe more famous is EN398. This is a typical early MkIX coming from a production batch originally intended to be MkVCs. Check my model of this one. It was pretty standard apart from a repaired area behind the cockpit on the starboard side.

Second was MK392 an L.F. MkIX. I think he took this aircraft on in May 1944 so there was a period when it was in regulation camouflage with no stripes (which were applied just before D-Day).The V.1 attacks started in early June around the time of D-Day so I expect if he ever went after Doodlebugs the aircraft would have had some form of the invasion stripes.

He scored his last victory flying MK392 in September 1944.

Did he chase doodlebugs in MK392? Not sure,would he have caught them in a MkIX?

Cheers

Steve

Edit. First V1 attack on London was on 13th June 1944,after D-Day,so definitely some form of stripes needed.

 

[Guest]

Johnson flew in support of the invasion forces, in fact he was based in Normandy soon after D-day, so he would not have been part of the ADGB force, which were used against the V1. Although there's no documented evidence, the stripes were known to cause drag, so aircraft, which remained in this country and didn't go near the invasion beaches, might not have worn them. The FIU had Tempests, and evidence points to them carrying no paint, at all.

Edgar

 

[Guest]

Ok thanx for the info lads. I got hold of a 1/72 Airfix, yes I did say airfix (after my recent rants LOL!) new tooling spit with his markings .There is also markings for a desert polish ace.

I wanted to do a little dio with the spit and a scrachbuild doodle bug, but it seems that it was not acurete then.The kit is very bare in the cockpit area, but with the canopy closed not much is to bee seen anyway.From the looks of it the kit seems to be rather nice.It will be nice if this is the new Airfix standard.

What Mk spits were mostly used for this?

Theuns

 

[Guest]

I forgot to sak.

Steve, in one of your pix a spit is receiving it's stripes, rather crudely brush painted on.

Were these ever re-painted neater in field, or were they just left as is and removed at some stage?

I recall the top surfacees removed and the bottom left or something.

The kit has decals for the stripes, but they are perfecty neat.

Theuns

 

[stona]

I'm trying to think of a picture of this aircraft with stripes! Isn't there one with underwing stripes and beer kegs visible.....not sure. I bet Johnson's weren't applied like the slap dash effort in the photo you are referring to.

Invasion stripes were removed in stages,I can dig out a schedule for you but I don't know specifically when what was done in Johnson's unit. The upper stripes were usually removed quite soon after the invasion. "Friendly" flak was rightly considered more dangerous than "friendly" fighters.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

Thanx Steve. I will painn on the stripes if I go that route, the decals might be hard to get perfect.

I will post pix as soon as I start building.

Theuns

 

[Guest]

Much (probably too much) is made of the "crude" nature of the strips application, but remember to think scale, in all of this. If the erk's paintbrush went off line by 3" (roughly the width of your palm,) and he didn't have an NCO breathing down his neck to "get that line straight, you 'orrible little man," in 1/72 scale 3" is still only equivalent to about 1mm., and will look, to an observer, as if you can't manage to paint straight lines, as well.

Edgar