[stoneyvmf214]

Hi , I fly on Il-2 and I love the spitfire. My G.Uncle flew 2 Spitfire MK VB's Serial no. BL722 with Call Letters MD-B and Serial no. BL773 with Call letter MD-M. for the RAF 133 ''Eagle Squadron" during the Battle of Britain
I would love it if someone could make a few skins for me. My uncle also flew a P-51D with the 4FG 336thFS but I dont no any serial no.'s or call letters. He was shot down in Austria I believe and spent the rest of the war in Stalag luft 3
I fly all the time but it would really mean alot to fly with his skins on my birds. Any help would be great from you guys!!
Thank you very much -Stoney

[Davis0079]

I will try if you want. If any other skinners want a shot at it plz do. I'm not familar with the spit templates, but out of respect for the sacrifice your uncle payed, I will make sure you get a good lookin skin. In order for me to do it though, you need to find some reference material. Mainly pics. They dont have to be pics of the exact plane, but I need to know what the squad colors and paint schemes where. I need to know the exact IL-2 spitfire you want me to make it for. The more information the better. Custom skins can be very nice. But you get out of them what you put in to them. You should google the info and post links in your reply. Most skinners dont have the time to do this, but when given the info, most skinners will find the time to make a good skin. If you wish to give it a try yourself I will tell you my secret, which is not a secret at all. I use gimp, Simmers paint shop, and pre-made templates. With the template supplied at Simmers all the hard work is done for you. You just add alittle personal touch here and there.


Like I said, I will give it a try. But I'm not going to search for pics to work from, thats your job. I'm going to download a couple MK VB templates now, if you reply soon, I should be done with this today.

[man139]

http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=ht...s%3Disch:1

maybe this is usefull?

not the exact same your relative flew in, but it shows the paintscheme very well =)

(last picture)

Regards,

Man 139

[Phas3e]

I might try and have a go at this as well, I have never done a spit V outside of personal schemes but I think I could come up with something for you over the weekend.

On an other note No133(eagle) Squadron didnt fly in the Battle of Britain, it wast commissioned until August 1941.

[man139]

The eagle squadron was indeed commisioned after the BoB, but there were American flyers who joined the RAF foluntairy.

maybe take a look at the movie Pearl Harbour, there are "Yanks" flying in spitfires in the BoB.

[aviatorsneah]

take a look at the movie Pearl Harbour, there are "Yanks" flying in spitfires in the BoB.

i strongly suggest you do not use that movie as any kind of historical reference...

[man139]

well the movie was based on historical facts?

sorry if i'm wrong :oops:

[Davis0079]

I dont think Ben Afflack movies should be use as reference for anything. Certainly not for WWII material.

[man139]

ok, ok, them i'm wrong, go along, i didn't say anything :hanged:

[Phas3e]

Im well aware of the americans that Flew in the Battle of Britain thanks

stoneyvmf214: Do you have the Osprey or Ventura books on US Spitfires?
they make mention have aircraft profiles and have photos of Richard L Alexanders aircraft in Sicily a MkVc QP*Z JK777 of the 2nd FS 52nd FG.
If this is the same man I can also do the Mediterranean skin as well

[Barkhorn]

I have a profile of Spitfire MK VB's Serial no. BL722 with Call Letters MD-B, but it's caption says it belonged to another pilot and squad... now i'm confuse...

[95aqua-ta]

Is this him?
It does mention six kills plus Stalag Luft3.
http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/resou ... ander.html

[_Harpia_Mafra55_]

S!

Spitfire Mk.Vb "Buckeye Don"
Unit: 335th FS, 4th FG (ex 133 Sqn, RAF), 8th AF, USAAF
Serial: MD-B (BL722)
Pilot - Maj.Leroy Gover, San Carlos, California. Joined 335th FS 23rd September 1942, until 4th January 1944, when transferred to 4th FG HQ Squadron. Earned first Silver Star awarded to Group. Squadron Operations Officer from 26th September 1943. CO from 10th October 1943 to 10th November 1943. Returned to USA after 257 combat sorties. Spitfire ВL722, МD-В was Gover's first aircraft after the Eagle Squadrons became the 4th FG USAAF in August 1942.


Spitfire Mk.Vb
Unit: No.72 Squadron (ex 133 Sqn, RAF)
Serial: MD-M (BL773)
Pilot - WOODS, F/L Eric Norman (60119) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.72 Squadron
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 July 1942.

28 April 1942, one FW.190 damaged, Calais-Gris Nez
- (No.72 Squadron, Spitfire BL773);

5 June 1942, one Bf.109F destroyed, Le Crotoy
- (No.72 Squadron, Spitfire BL773);

Lt. Richard Lear Alexander

At 12:25 on 19 August 1942, Flight
Sergeant

[_Harpia_Mafra55_]

more about he

really 6 kills

1 with Spitfire Mk.Vb; Serial: MD-M (BL773) (ex 133 Sqn, RAF)
5 with P-51B-15-NA; Serial: QP-A (43-24816)

P-51B-15-NA "Chappie/Dixie Mk X"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-A (43-24816)
Pilot - Lt.Richard L.'Dixie' Alexander. Madna, Italy, June 1944.

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/165/3/7/242

Spitfire Mk.Vc/Trop "Chappie/Dixie - Mk.IV"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 12th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-A
Pilot - Lt. Richard 'Dixie' Alexander. Corsica, 1944.

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/52/3/3/52


Historical skin of Spitfire MkVc QP A - 2nd Fighter Squadron -
52 Fighter Group, Lt Richard "DIXIE" Alexander - Corsica 1944

Template made by Jester
Skin made by _Harpia_Mafra55_

Click on the photo to download skin

[Pooch]

Wow, the history of this whole thing really went all over the place, in this post.
First of all, the only thing factual about the movie, "Pearl Harbor", is that Pearl Harbor was bombed!
The Eagle squadron did NOT fly in the Battle Of Britain. That does NOT mean that no Americans did. There were seven Yank pilots that flew for the RAF. That does not constitute a squadron. And besides, they didn't all serve in the same unit. The Eagles were formed months after the Battle, and didn't even see their first combat until almost a year after it was over. By that time there enough Americans to form an all American unit. Technically, there were THREE squadrons and it was actually a Wing.
The whole Ben Affleck thing was pure baloney. NO, and I repeat NO! U.S. Army Air Corps pilots went to fly with the British before the U.S. entered the war. It was strictly forbidden for Americans to fight for another country, and anyone who did was made to understand that they would lose their citizenship. Those that did, lost it. They got them back, however, when the U.S. entered the war and the Eagle Squadron became the 4th Fighter Group.
As far as your uncle is concerned, you say that he served with the Eagles, but that's a Med based outfit, he flew for. They flew referse lend-lease Spits until April of 1944. They then traded in their trusty Spitfires for brand new P-51 Mustangs. Now, it could be that he flew with the Eagles , out of England, before being shipped South.