WIX Archives

Re: More Spitfire Questions

Posted by Mick on Thu Feb 07, 2002 05:50:31 AM

In reply top Re: More Spitfire Questions posted by Paul McMillan on Thu Feb 07, 2002 04:13:12 AM

Sadly it isn't as simple as that.

The "Big Spitfire History Book" does not list construction numbers, and as Mr Spitfire has been telling us for years there are no known tie-ups between Spitfire military serials and their construction numbers.
There were apparently many different numbering systems running concurrently at the factories, and it seems that the dispersed factories had their own different systems as well, and you even get different numbers for the Frame Five firewall plate and the cockpit plate, although it is possible to make an "educated" guess sometimes.

Looking at the known construction numbers of the survivors I would say that CBAF 14700 is a Mk IX or XVI, but it is only a guess and it depends if it is a firewall plate or a cockpit plate, as to it's actual serial number I have no idea.

P7350 of the BBMF ia good example of the odd numbering system.
It is always claimed that P7350 was the 14th Spitfire MkII off the line at Castle Bromwich because it has the construction number CBAF 14.
However, P7350 is the 51st MkII serial number and it is clear that many more than 13 MkII came off the line and were delivered to the RAF before CBAF 14 was built.

The only real way to find the RAF serial of CBAF 14700 is to find out EXACTLY where the plate was found, like is it from a known wreck site, or is it from a scrapyard etc.
If it is from a known reck site then it might be possible to dig up the history of that crash site, squadron, pilot, date etc and then discover the RAF serial.......hopefully.
Where did you acquire it Tony, if you are able to tell us ?

Just had a quick look at MkII serials.
P7280 was the very first MkII bulit at CB and was one of the nine built under the Nuffield organisation before Vickers took over, their first MkII being P7289.

Hope this makes things a bit clearer?.......No?........Oh well...........!

TaTa
Mick




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