We've been busy again...

[ndicki]

This is a South African Air Force Spitfire SHF.Mk IXc of No.10 Squadron, based in Egypt in late 1943. These aircraft operated in pairs, one unarmed but equipped with a radio, the other armed - though what the armament actually was varies according to who you believe - but without a radio, to save weight. The idea was to intercept the high-altitude Ju 86P bombers the Luftwaffe had deployed to the area, with the one aircraft forcing the raider down so the other could attack. They carried no markings other than the aircraft's serial number, and were stripped back to bare metal to save weight.

 

[Bravo/4]

Very nice!

 

[Pat Pattle]

Where's that 'like' button when you need it!
Very nice Nigel!

 

[MajorMagee]

Brilliant!

 

[sixstrings5859]

Beautiful work!!

 

[Daiwilletti]

They certainly are beauties!

 

[Frosty]

Like!! (Very much!!)

 

[Led Zeppelin]

wow, never heard about these ones!

 

[gecko]

Very unusual, bare aluminum Spitfires are always striking, but this is certainly the most extreme example I've seen with even the national markings gone.

 

[ndicki]

Thank you!

They're on hold, along with all the other Mediterranean Spitfires we've done - about 20 - for the revamp of MAW. Anything not needed for that project will be released afterwards...