THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

"Battle of Britain - The Movie", by Robert J. Rudhall, book excerpt #10
All text by the late Robert J. Rudhall, circa 2000

　

 

　

Identifying the Royal Air Force

It is an easy task these days to identify vintage aircraft when they appear at airshows, for even if they are wearing representative markings, more often than not the airframe carries its original serial. During the filming of Battle, with all the aircraft wearing 'uniform' colours and markings, it was much more difficult to work out which aircraft was which. The airworthy Spitfires, Hurricanes and Messerschmitts reportedly had their true identities painted on the inside of the wheel wells, which was all very well if you were one of the fortunate ones who were able to inspect the 'stars' at close quarters. But for today's keen aviation film fans, some of whom were not even born when the film was being made, the problem of identifying the individual 'performers' has proved to be somewhat problematical.

This guide is not intended to be infallible, but will certainly help to identify the individual airframes. This system really only works for the flyable Spitfires and Hurricanes used. As for the Messerschmitts and Heinkels, these aircraft . were virtually identical and carried no major distinguishing features, save that the taxying Messerschmitts, used only in Spain, were fitted with three blade propellers and the flyable airframes, which came to the UK, were fitted with four blade units.

Through a system of noting the number of propeller blades, exhaust stacks, wheel apertures, radiators, paint stains etc, and much study of photographic evidence, it is possible to pin down the individual airworthy Spitfires and Hurricanes which were used in the filming. It is possible to identify the taxying and static Spitfires, but it has to be said, it is much more problematical!

Supermarine Spitfires (Airworthy)

Spitfire 1a AR213

4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, small aperture Perspex window in front ofand below windscreen, internal armour plated windscreen, 5 aperture wheels.

Spitfire 11a P7350

3 blade broad chord root prop, 3 fishtail exhaust stubs, external armour plated windscreen, 5 aperture wheels.

Spitfire Vb AB910

4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, internal armour plated windscreen, 4 aperture wheels.

Spitfire Vc AR501 3 blade narrow chord prop, 6 flat exhaust stubs, internal armour plated windscreen, 5 aperture wheels.
Spitfire IX MH415 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, 4 aperture wheels, strobe lights in gun ports.
Spitfire IX MH434 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, 4 aperture wheels, small dipole aerial under rear fuselage.
Spitfire IX MK297 4 blade prop, 6 flat exhaust stubs, 4 aperture wheels
Spitfire Tr IX MJ772 4 blade prop, 6 flat exhaust stubs, 4 aperture wheels.
Spitfire Tr IX TE308 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, 3 aperture wheels, fitted with Buchon prop and spinner at one stage of filming.
Spitfire XIV RM689 Griffon engine, 5 blade prop, rear fuselage whip radio aerial, non-retractable tai Iwheel, standard framed windscreen.
Spitfire PR XIX PM631 Griffon engine, 5 blade prop, rear fuselage whip radio aerial, 3 aperture wheels, retractable tailwheel, one piece non-framed windscreen.
Spitfire PR XIX PS853 Griffon engine, 5 blade prop, rear fuselage whip radio aerial, 3 aperture wheels, cabin air pressurisation intake on port engine cowling, retractable taiIwheel, one piece non-framed windscreen.

A suitable system for identifying the taxying and static Spitfires used in the film has been much more difficult to pin down. Suffice to say that the majority of the airframes were given the Mark Addie treatment to portray a 'uniform' effect on screen. An easy to distinguish feature of the Mark Addies is that none of the airframes have trim tabs fitted to the rudders, due to these components all being removed and modified during the aircraft's conversion process. The following selection of 'de-codes' is intended to give a rough guide for aircraft identification purposes.

Supermarine Spitfires (Taxying & Static)

Spitfire Vb BM597 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, metal repair plate on sliding cockpit canopy.
Spitfire Vb EP120 3 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, internal annour plated windscreen, 4 aperture wheels, no wingtip navigation lights.
Spitfire IX MK356 4 blade prop, 6 flat exhaust stubs, 4 aperture wheels, metal repair patch on rear cockpit perspex.
Spitfire XVIe RW382 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stacks, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire XVIe SL574 4 blade prop, 3 fishtail exhaust stubs, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire XVIe SM411 3 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, no wingtip navigation lights.
Spitfire XVIe TB382 3 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stubs, no wingtip navigation lights.
Spitfire XVIe TE311 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stacks, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire XVIe TE356 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stacks, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire XVIe TE384 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stacks, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire XVIe TE476 4 blade prop, 6 tubular exhaust stacks, 3 aperture wheels.
Spitfire PR XIX PM651 Griffon engine,S blade prop, rear fuselage whip radio aerial, 3 aperture wheels, retractable tailwheel, one piece non-framed windscreen.
Spitfire PR XIX PS915 Griffon engine,S blade prop, rear fuselage whip radio aerial, 3 aperture wheels, retractable tailwheel, one piece non-framed windscreen.
Spitfire F.21 LA198 5 blade prop, 3 aperture wheels, non-elliptical wings, flush navigation lights on wingtips.

 Hawker Hurricanes (Airworthy)

Hurricane IIC LF363 6 exhaust stubs, circular rear view mirror, straight radio aerial, 'knuckle-style' tailwheel oleo leg.
Hurricane IIC PZ865 6 exhaust stubs, rectangular rear view mirror, reanvards leaning radio aerial, 'knuckle-style' tailwheel oleo leg.
Hurricane XII G-AWLW flat Canadian-style prop spinner, 3 tubular exhaust stubs, single oleo strut tailwheel.

 Hawker Hurricanes (Taxying)

Hurricane I P2617 3 tubular exhaust stubs, no rear view mirror, knuckle-style tailwheel oleo leg.
Sea Hurricane I Z7015 3 tubular exhaust stubs, broad chord three-blade propeller, single oleo strut tailwheel.

 

 

 

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