Air International 1980-05
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Model enthusiast
Spitfire I N9794 as flown by Sqdn Ldr Henry Cozens, CO of No 19 Squadron, RAF, at Duxford, for air-to-air photography in October 1938; the squadron identity was removed from the fin soon after.
The sole Spitfire I acquired by the Armee de I'Air towards the end of 1939, and believed to have been captured by German forces at Orleans in 1940.
A Spitfire IIA of No 66 Squadron in 1941, one of three squadrons to use the 40-Imp gal (182-l) long-range tank installation (on the port wing only) for bomber escort duty.
Spitfire IIA P7666, a presentation aircraft from the Observer Corps, as used by Sqdn Ldr D O Finlay, DFC, the CO of No 41 Squadron at Hornchurch in December 1940.
Spitfire IA No 371, one of 18 supplied to Portugal during 1943 and used by the "XZ" Squadron at No 3 Aerial Base, Tancos.
Spitfire IIB P8342 of No 306 (Polish) Squadron operating from Northolt in August 1941. The badge of the Polish Torunski unit is carried on the lower front cowling.
Spitfire VC JK226 with tropical filter, in the markings of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st FG, with the Twelfth Air Force, USAAF, in Tunisia, mid-1943.
Clipped-wing Spitfire VB No 81, one of 40 acquired from ex-RAF stocks in 1947 and used until 1952 by the "ZE" Squadron of the Forca Aerea Portuguesa at Aerial Base No 2. Ota. *
Spitfire VC LZ846 with tropical filter, operating with No 54 Squadron, RAF, in the defence of Australia in 1943.
Clipped-wing Spitfire VB EP688 operating with No 40 Squadron, SAAF, in Italy, August 1943, with "Aboukir" tropical filter and oblique camera installation behind the cockpit.
One of the more exotic types is the Ikarus IK-2 single-seat fighter of the late 'thirties. The photo shows the prototype IK-2, with wheel spats, at the Belgrade exhibition in 1938;