Spitfires that have worn a Red spinner

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24 years 2 months

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Thought this deserved its own thread after the comments in Duxford Diary.

After some research, see the tables below showing the aircraft which have worn (or still wear) a Red spinner.

I have included all of the ones already mentioned, but there may well be more.

[17 April 2019: tables amended to include others mentioned in the comments below]

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That's a lot more than I could think of!

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Thought of another one - Spitfire K9942. I definitely recall a photo of it with a red spinner, but can't remember exactly where. The image of her wearing the codes RN-V in Spitfire Survivors Vol.1 is in black and white, however.

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Daz, you are right just scanned my notes and Mk.I K9942 appeared as RN-V with a Red spinner at the 1968 review at RAF Abingdon.

And just thought of another I had missed, Mk.IX / Tr.9 MJ627 she is currently sporting a Red spinner.

Edit,
and another - Mk.I X4590 marked as PR-F with a Red spinner at RAF Colerne & RAF Upper Heyford c1970-1971.

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I know you have MJ730 as GZ-?, with a red nose 1990 till now, but it was also marked HT-W with a red nose in 1990 (6 May at Upper Heyford and 9/10 June at Boscombe Down).

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A bit cheeky this but don`t forget the Spitfires of 66 Squadron in September 1940. Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh ordered the change of colour after mistaking his wing man for a 109E . ........I`ll get my coat ......:-D

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I recall only one spit of 66 had the red spinner and that was LZ-N? not sure though

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I know you have MJ730 as GZ-?, with a red nose 1990 till now, but it was also marked HT-W with a red nose in 1990 (6 May at Upper Heyford and 9/10 June at Boscombe Down).

Good point, another one to add to the list.

Tables now updated, see post #1.

Not included wartime aircraft as this exercise was focused on the warbird-era. I am sure there were hundreds of red-nosed Spitfires during their service careers.

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OK, I'll be the one to ask.........what is the relevance/purpose of the red spinner?

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Conversation starter...

about Spitfires :-)

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Almost forgot about this one - TE184.....

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Annoyingly, I can't find a photo of it, but Spitfire Tr.9 MH367 had a red spinner when she was originally restored, wearing the markings WD-Q while in the USA.

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Annoyingly, I can't find a photo of it, but Spitfire Tr.9 MH367 had a red spinner when she was originally restored, wearing the markings WD-Q while in the USA.

https://oimg.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Album%205/9-MH367%20First%20flight%20with%20owner%20Peter%20Godfrey%20Image%20Harry%20Stenger%20PRA%2001aaa_zps81dnfqrn.jpg

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I recall only one spit of 66 had the red spinner and that was LZ-N? not sure though

Squadron Leader Rupert Leigh ordered the whole squadron to have their spinners painted Red. R6800 is the most famous because it was the Squadron Leaders mount. It would be interesting to know how long the spinners stayed Red, probably till the change in colour in early December 1940 to Sky.

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Wasn't it Dizzy Allen that claimed it was his fault that he gave his CO a scare, prompting the order for the red spinners?

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Wasn't the use of red spinners common to most if not all Commonwealth fighters operating in the Mediteranian areas ? I understood it was an I.D. issue like the yellow leading edges in North-West Europe.