PR Spitfire designations.
The early development of photo-reconnaissance Spitfires for the RAF resulted in many different configurations, as many of the aircraft converted for the role received unique or near unique equipment, or were progressively modified. As aircraft were converted prior to the adoption of significant role prefixes (eg B for bomber, F for Fighter etc.) a method was required to distinguish them from regular fighters. Thus a total of seven ‘Type’ designations – A to G – were used to denote various configurations, both airframe and photographic equipment, used by they early photo-reconnaissance Spitfires. That is PR I Type A, PR I Type B, and so on to PR I Type G. As they were all variations of the Mk I they were also known as PR Ia to PR Ig (sometimes written with capital letters, PR IA ….). In 1941 this was rationalised so that the c to g versions (the variants still in service at that time) became the PR III, PR IV, PR V, PR VI and PR VII. PR IV Type D is not a designation; it is a tautology, a concatenation of the new and previous designations used by some to indicate that they are the same type.
Camotint or Camotint Green.
Camotint or Camotint Green is the same colour as Sky. Sky ws the name given to it by the RAE when it was added to the Vocabulary of Stores reference 33B at the beginning of 1940.
Spitfire PR type G R7116/ZW*C 140 Army Co-Operation Squadron.
Spitfire Mk I ZW*B of 140 Army Co-Operation Squadron pre-August 1941. There is no camera port visible so this may be one of the squadron’s Mk Is used for conversion training (most likely L1000). In the Temperate Land scheme, Dark Earth/Dark Green, with Sky undersides. The Land Temperate scheme with Medium Sea Grey undersides would seem to be a very odd combination. When the PRU were asked by the Air Ministry what special aircraft camouflage schemes they used they replied that two standard schemes had been adopted.
Scheme A was applied to high flying aircraft and consisted of an overall finish of PRU Blue, (33B/494), with the exception of national markings.
Scheme B was for low flying aircraft and consisted of Extra Dark Sea Grey (33B/245), and Extra Dark Sea Green (33B/338), on the upper surfaces, while the the under surfaces were PRU Mauve which was mixed from 5 parts PRU Pink (33B – not in Vocabulary of Stores), 2 parts PRU Blue (33B/494), and one part ident red (33B/72). Examination of the Vocabulary of Stores reveals that 33b/72 was the pre-war bright red colour not the wartime dull red.
Spitfire PR type G, thought to be P9328, of 1416 Army Co-Operation Flight (DP codes) which used the type during July September 1941 until reformed into 140 Squadron. The overall dark appearance with an only just discernible disruptive pattern conforms to the prescribed scheme of EDSGrey/EDSGreen with PRU Mauve undersides.
Spitfire PR type G R7116 of 140 Army Co-Operation squadron. The low contrast suggests the prescribed scheme of EDSGrey/EDSGreen with PRU Mauve undersides. However the presence of the Sky spinner and fuselage band suggests it might be the Day Fighter scheme of Ocean Grey and Dark Green (with the two colours transposed) with Medium Sea Grey undersides.
Spitfire PR.IV BR416
In North Africa different air transparency characteristics made PRU Blue too bright at high altitudes. As a result Spitfire PR IVs were often painted Royal Blue (a very dark gloss blue) in that theatre. Fin flashes were generally not carried but they did feature roundels under the wing. Because of the similarity of roundel blue and Royal Blue the national markings were applied with lighter shade of blue, possibly Azure Blue.
Spitfire IV BR416 in overall Royal Blue scheme. The code letter X is unusual for this finish. The wing tip of another PR Spitfire in the foreground is PRU Blue. The wingtip relief valve for the fuel tank can be seen.
Later the undersides and sides of BR416 were painted white (or perhaps Sky or light blue). It seems the fuselage roundels remained in the pale blue colour. It is sometimes claimed that BR416 was used in this scheme by 1437 (Strategical Reconnaissance) Flight. Documents of the flight make no mention of any Spitfire used at all. BR416 was used by 2 PRU/680 Squadron from late 1942 until 1944. During this time the Spitfire was flown, among others, by Cpt ‘Jerry’ Orr SAAF, seen in the photograph.
