Single tone uppersurfaces on Spitfire Mk.IXs in Osprey's lend-lease Aces.

[Graham Boak]

Three examples in an uppersurface green, lighter than RAF Dark Green and USAAF Olive Drab.  Shown on examples of 26 GIAP 1944 (red 2 on rudder, white tip to the fin/rudder). 26 GIAP 1945 Matsievich  Blue 2 on white tail, white lightning flash, and 19 IAP 1948 Kalinin, otherwise as first example.   All undersides Soviet blue.  No Guards badge carried.  A variation of the second/third scheme is in Geust's Red Star 4, but with the white lightning flash.

There is a model available with Matsievich's aircraft but in mid-grey.

I'm aware of the reference to fighters in the Leningrad area having white tails, and the discussion elsewhere on this board of whether these should be silver.  But what about the colour itself?  Were at least some of these Spitfire repainted on arrival - this would seem to be almost if not entirely unique.  Or does the scheme actually belong to post war, possibly immediately so?  Or is it entirely fictional?

[Troy Smith]

Hi Graham.
The profiles are from a blow up of a Spitfire In the background in Red Stars 4.  It should be noted that some of the profiles in that are debateable, but I think was the first Spitfire profile with single colour uppers.
I found, I think on here, an image of. 1948 Spitfire, which looks like this.
.

Is the only post war VVS Spitfire photo I have seen,  looks to be green over light blue, but could be dark grey uppers.

Seems that just after the war most planes got repainted,  maybe to keep ground crew busy, or for victory parades.    But who know what else happened.....until more photos leak out, if they even exist!

Typing on a tablet.. may add more later.