I am currently working on a Canadian Spitfire mk IX e circa d-day. I was wondering what colour the squadron code letters should be? Medium Sea Grey or Sky? Having only black and white photos to go on doesn't help all that much. Most likely It will be marked as either a 402 or 411 squadron aircraft, though I havn't quite decided yet. Any advice is much appreciated.

Hi Matthew,
A quick search on Wings pallette ,shows these colour profiles for 2 Spitfire Mk.IX of 402 Sqn, RCAF.
Don't know if it helps alot as both aircraft look to carry different 2 different code letter colours.
This might help as well.
Andy

I think Sky is most likely the answer. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

At that time Sky was the colour used for codes. Medium Sea Grey was used earlier with the Dark Earth/Green/Sky camouflage. The colour changed with the introduction of the Ocean Grey/Green/Medium sea Grey scheme.

Hi Matthew:

In mid May 1942 the standard day fighter scheme introduced was as follow:

Colours were Ocean Grey and Dark Green with Medium Sea Grey undersides. The alternating A and B schemes were eliminated, thus all Spitfires from then on carried the A scheme. Spinners were Sky while markings consisted of 56" diameter upper wing B type roundels, 36" diameter C1 type fuselage roundels, 32" diameter C type roundels under the wings, 18" Sky rear fuselage band, 11"x2"x11"x24" fin flash and a yellow band along wing leading edges. The code letters normally were 24" Sky colour. For D Day, the Spitfire and other types, had invasion stripes applied.These were applied around the wings and fuselageand consisted of 18" bands of white and black (five in total in each wing).The Sky rear fuselage band was to remain until the removal was ordered on 3 January 1945.

Sky band and spinners introduced 27/11/1940.

A & B schemes abandoned on Spitfires 14/1/1941. Only A scheme used from that date.

Never heard of an order to eliminate Sky bands date 3/1/1945. In early 1945 2nd TAF painted over Sky bands and painted spinners black on aircraft operating from bases close to the front line to make them less visible to enemy aircraft when on the ground. Plenty of aircraft had Sky bands at end/post war. e.g., 616 Sqn Meteors Holland April 1945.