Sheet 72-201 is amongst the new batch of decals recently released from AeroMaster.  It provides markings for five Supermarine Spitfires operated by the USAAF under the reverse lend-lease program during WWII. 

An odd inclusion on this sheet as strictly speaking, it wasn't operated by the USAAF is Mk IXC MK210 as flown by Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Lundquist in June of 1944. 

This is a significant aircraft.  It was shipped to Wright Field in the US in February 1944 for modification and trials of its fuel system.  According to the entry in the Shacklady and Morgan Spitfire - The History, all military equipment was removed and it was flown non-stop from Newfoundland to the UK in August of 1944.  Page 330 of Spitfire - The History shows this aircraft – sans the nose art – fitted with P-51 drop tanks.   

Camouflage is dark green/ocean grey over medium sea grey with a sky spinner and fuselage band.  The placement guide advises that the nose art was painted by a Sergeant Petta in Greenland whilst the aircraft was being ferried to England.Markings consist of

• RAF national insignia consisting of Type C1 roundels for the fuselage, Type B roundels for the upper surfaces of the wings, Type E for the lower surfaces of the wings and a fin flash.  The fuselage roundels are supplied as three-part decals whilst the underside ones are two part.

• Black MK210 serial.

• The significant nose art consisting of a reclining nude – blonde of course!

'Skipper', a Mk IXC – no serial given – as flown by Captain Harry Barr, of the 309th Fighter Squadron when it was based at Pomigliano, Italy in December 1943.  Camouflage scheme is dark earth/middle stone over azure blue with a red spinner and red band theatre markings on the wings.  Markings comprise:

• Red bordered US star and bar insignia in four places.

• White WZ HH squadron codes.

• A white rectangle with that lists the pilot's and ground crew's names in black.

• A one-piece decal consisting of squadron insignia, consisting of an angry Donald Duck, white name Skipper, and a single kill marking.

• The red band theatre markings.

Mk Vb EN 799 of the 307th Fighter Squadron whilst it was based at Manston, UK in either late July or early August of 1942.   Camouflage is dark green/ocean grey over medium sea grey with a sky spinner and fuselage band.  Markings comprise:

• Sky MX-R squadron insignia.

• Black EN 799 serial number.

• 309th Fighter Squadron insignia.  This marking is provided as either a singe or two-piece decal to avoid any register problems.

• Early white star on blue circle US national insignia in four places.

'Steve', a Mk Vc (no serial given) as flown by Lieutenant R.J. Connor of the 309th Fighter Squadron in December of 1943.  Camouflage is given as two shades of dark green on the upper surfaces over very light blue under surfaces – non standard to say the least - with a red spinner.  Markings comprise:

• White WZ-B squadron codes.

• A one-piece decal comprising the Squadron insignia and the name Steve in white.

• Early white star on blue circle US national insignia with "crudely painted" white bars in four places.

'Porky III', another 309th Fighter Squadron Mk IX c that was flown by Lieutenant R.J. Connor.  The markings depict the aircraft in February/March of 1944.   Camouflage is dark green/ocean grey over medium sea grey with a red spinner and red theatre bands on the wings.  Markings consist of: 

• White WZ-RR squadron codes.

• Red bordered US star and bar insignia for the fuselage with blue bordered ones for the wings. 

• Red theatre bands for the wings.

• The word 'PUD' on a yellow background for the cowling beneath the spinner.

• Nose-art consisting of the cartoon character Porky Pig on a white background with the words 'That's all Folks' and 'Porky III'.

The decals are printed by Cartograf and AeroMaster has been generous with this sheet.  There are sufficient markings for each and every aircraft as well as three complete sets of stencil data. 

The placement sheet is A-4 in size and provides colour profiles of each option as well as plan views of the upper surfaces and a four-view one to show the placement of the stencil data.  The decal sheet and the placement guide are packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag. 

The suggested kits are the Hasegawa and Tamiya ones.   

The references quoted are American Spitfires Part I and Part II (or to give them their correct title, American Spitfire Camouflage and Markings Part I and Part II) by Paul Ludwig and Malcolm Laird.  These are Ventura Publications out of New Zealand.  If you have only a passing interest in Spitfires flown by the USAAF these two books are worth tracking down.  

A nice sheet from AeroMaster. 

Recommended. 

Thanks to AeroMaster / Eagle Strike Products for the review sets

On-line sales are available from the AeroMaster Products / Eagle Strike Productions web site.

Review TextCopyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 10 February, 2003
Last updated 21 August, 2003

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