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Cheers guys

I've fixed the colour scheme on one of my earlier Spitfires.


Spitfire Mk.Vc, C, ES354, N° 9 Squadron, Minnick, Syria, June 1944.

After being formed in April 1939, then disbanded in December 1939, re-formed in February 1942, then disbanded again at the end of 1942, N° 9 squadron was re-formed for the third time, at Almaza, Egypt, in May 1944. They received their first Spitfire Mk.V’s in May 1944, and based at El Gamil in Egypt, their main role was to protect the Suez Canal and the Egyptian coastline. In September 1944, the squadron moved to Savoia in Libya, where they flew sorties over the island of Crete. The squadron was again disbanded in January 1945, having only been operational for 258 days.

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Brent Best

Cheers Spice

Here is the aircraft responsible for the only N° 9 squadron 'kill' of the war.


Spitfire Mk.IX, 'V', LZ894, N° 9 Squadron, Lakatamia, Cyprus, July 1944.

N° 9 squadron received their only 'kill' of the war on the 29th July 1944. At 16:05 two Spitfire Mk.IX's from the detachment at Lakatamia in Cyprus, were scrambled to intercept a hostile aircraft. Lt. Joubert, flying a/c 'V' as 'Red1' and Lt. Retief, flying a/c 'X' as 'Red2', were vectored onto the bandit, and intercepted it at 'Angels' 23,000, some 40 miles west of Limassol. It was identified as a Ju-88, and the pursuit followed out over the sea. Numerous attacks were made on the Ju-88, which was taking violent evasive action and also returning fire. The Ju-88 turned into the sun and 'Red2' lost sight of him. Also due to a Glycol leak, 'Red2' had an underperforminmg engine, and he was unable to continue the attack. 'Red1' however, continued with the attack, and with black smoke later pouring from the Ju'88's engines, she started to dive. At 15,000ft she rolled onto her back and went straight down and was then seen to explode at 8,000 ft. Lt. Joubert, who was now low on fuel, landed at Limassol. Once safe on the ground, the Spitfire was inspected, and three holes were found in the tailplane. He had expended 320 x 20mm rounds and 1400 x .303 rounds in achieving this 'kill'.

I have not seen a photo of this particular aircraft so the profile is an educated guess & based on other photos. The code & serial are correct & are taken from the war diaries,

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Brent Best

Spitfire Mk.VIII, JF294, Cairo to Cape Town, March 1944.

In late 1943, the South African Prime Minister, Jan Christiaan Smuts, requested a display aircraft from the RAF to take part in a series of 'Liberty Cavalcades' held throughout the Union. The RAF obliged and in March 1944, Spitfire Mk.VIII JF294 was flown from Cairo to Cape Town by Flying Officer George E. Camplin. It departed from 'Kilo 40' in Egypt on the 3rd March. After three hours flying, she landed at Wadi Halfa where an oil leak was discovered and repaired. The rest of the journey was uneventfull and the Spitfire arrived in Cape Town seven days later. The successful Cape Town 'Liberty Cavalcade' was held from the 25th March to the 1st April 1944, whereafter permission was given for the Spitfire to take part in the rest of the cavalcades throughout the Union. The Spitfire, flown by George Camplin, participated in the 'Cavalcades' held at Bloemfonten, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and Johannesburg. After the final show in Johannesburg, the Spitfire was handed over to the South African Air Force.

The PRU blue colour was removed when the aircraft was given the SAAF serial 5501, and was taken on strength at 11 OTU. She became the personal mount of Major Doug Loftus, who was the Commanding Officer of 11 OTU. During 1955, she was purchased from the S.A.A.F. by the South African National Museum of Military History, for 17 pounds 10 pence. She is still on static display at the musem.

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Brent Best

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Brent Best

Ok Kremlin, now your just showing off!

Brilliant and thanks for sharing

Nice work, as always Brent.

have a good WE,

Cheers, S



PS Note to moderators - we really need a like button!

Cheers saaffan, Plane crazy


Spitfire Mk.VIII, AX-B, JF322, N°1 Squadron, Trigno, Italy, March 1944.

This Spitfire Mk.VIII, carries two swastika 'kill' markings, this from two different pilots claiming 'kills' whilst flying her in March 1944. The first 'kill' was on the 14th March, when Lt. Sidney James 'Dick' Richards shot down a Me.410 and the second 'kill' was on the 19th March, when Lt. David S. Hastie shot down a FW.190. In both these sorties, the pilots were on cockpit standby, and were scrambled to intercept the 'bogey'.

Sortie report of 14th March, Lt. Richards: Hotspur Black, of which I was leader, was scrambled from cockpit sndby at 15:40 hrs. Black 2 could not start his engine, so I took off alone. As soon as I was airborne I turned out to sea and was told by COMMANDER to climb to between 1500 & 2000ft. He reported that there was a bogey flying down the coast 4-5 miles off shore and was just opposite the SANGRO river mouth. Commander instucted me to orbit to port but I was still just over PENNA Point. I continued out to sea. He then reported the bandit 4-5 miles off PENNA Point right on the water. I opened up, started to lose height and saw the e/a at 11 o'clock to me, about 2 miles away, flying S.E. very fast at water level. I did an interception and when I was about 1000yds away he saw me and immediately turned away from me out to sea. I opened right out and very gradually closed in on him. I did not jettison my long range tank as I was afraid that in bending forward to do so I would lose sight of the bandit. I fired several short bursts, partly to lighten my load, from 600yds. The rear gunner then started firing, and one bullet (13mm) struck my long-range tank. The Me.410 started weaving enabling me to close to 400 yds. I fired again; there was an explosion, pieces flew off, and a fire started in the rear of the cockpit. There was no more return fire. I closed to 300 yds. and fired again causing another explosion. The e/a hit the water and exploded. I circled the spot where the wreckage was burning, but saw no survivors. I then returned to base.

Sortie report of 19th March, Lt. Hastie: I was scrambled at 16:00 hours & vectored by COMMANDER to ORTONA - angels unknown. I stayed at 3000' & just South of ORTONA COMMANDER gave angels 16 and handed me over to PYREX. PYREX told me to call SYRUP on channel C. I climbed up inland towards MAIELLA Mts. & then turned out to sea. A.A. markers led me to 2 vapour trails at about 10 o'clock from me going towards the sea. I jettisoned my long-range tank & climbed after these & closed in at 28000' just off the coast of PESCARA area. I saw the 2 a/c glinting in the sun ahead of the v-t's. I saw 3 clueless puffs of 88mm A.A. at 2 o'clock to me. The e/a turned North & I gained some more ground. I closed in then to about 400 yds & fired some quick bursts, with no results. They were still flying in line abrteast & appeared not to have seen me. I closed to about 300 yds. & fired, saw strikes and a big flash of flame & black smoke. This a/c dropped a wing & fell onto his back, & went down vertically. He was doing a slow aileron turn & appeared to be out of control. I lost him under my wing & turned to the other. He half-rolled & dived very steeply. I followed & closed in but had no more ammo, so returned to base. Both Focke Wulfs carried very big long-range tanks, half the length of the fuselage.

Lt. Dave Hastie (left) & Lt. Sidney "Dick" Richards, with "Billy Boy II" displaying their "kill" markings.

(image via Tinus le Roux)

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Brent Best

Spitfire Mk.VIII, AX-A, JF406, N° 1 sqdn, Trigno, Italy, February 1944.

Lt. Hinton Brown in the cockpit of Spitfire Mk.VIII, "Dil-Emma".

(Image via Tinus le Roux)

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Brent Best

Nice stuff Kremlin!

Cheers again saafan

Aircraft flown by Major Cecil Alexander Golding as OC of N° 3 squadron. The 3 squadron code 'CA', was a perfect match for his initials


Spitfire Mk.IX, CA-G, RK856, N° 3 Squadron, Pontedera, Italy, January 1945.

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Brent Best

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Brent Best

Tha Man is on a roll.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Have ago agree... but we need a book with all this work... would be a pity if it gets lost in cyberspace!

OR - a DVD together with Tinus....

Just thinks loud, gents.

Brilliant work once again (as always). . Howzabout a SAAF calendar for sale via Dean's on-line shop.