Hawker Typhoon MkIb - 198 Squadron RAF includes pre-D-Day, Mid-1944 and D-Day (UPDATED)

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

UPDATED VERSION

 

This is a historical skin pack based on Hawker Typhoon MkIb TP-V (MN526) of the 198 Squadron RAF.  The squadron was formed in December 1942 and flew throughout the war equipped with Typhoons.  In March 1943 they provided escort to fighter-bombers on sorties into continental Europe.  Over the next nine months they were one of only two Typhoon units to operate full-time on escort duties for RAF and USAAF bombers and long-range fighter sweeps over France, Belgium and the Netherlands.  At the beginning of 1944 their role converted to ground attack and they participated in D-Day, the Battle of Normandy, Bodenplatte and on through VE Day.  The actual pilot of TP-V is unknown.

 

CHANGES AND ADDITIONS:  The 2 previous skins received corrections to camo, etc.  In addition there is a pre-D-Day skin for TP-V included along with 3 blank skins for pre-D-Day, D-Day and Mid-1944 for use with the in-game lettering that will be available for all aircraft.  File names for the original skins remain the same however TP-V previously reflected the Mid-1944 camo and is replaced with the pre-D-Day camo.

 

Thanks to ICDP for his template. 

 

Download link:  https://www.mediafire.com/file/z9xni1k10wxd8d0/TyphoonMkIb_198_RAF.zip/file

Skins are available on HSD.   Skin pack name:  198 RAF Typhoon MkIb   Author:  VBF-12_Stick

 

 

Note:  The code letters for the 198th are shown in red in various sources including for this aircraft.  I found the following that contradicts this so I went with the grey.

 

"Red Code Letters - No Conclusive evidence has ever been found to support the claim that 198 Squadron RAF used red code letters on its aircraft sometime during July/August 1944.  198's Commanding Officer at the time of these claimed changes, Sqn/Ldr Y. Ezanno, was asked many years ago if the colour had been changed to red and he replied with a definite "NO".  Since then surviving 198 Squadron veteran present at the time were asked the same question twice.  With slight variations they either replied with "no recollection of any red code letters during July/August" or more specifically recalled the code letters as being of varying shades between "dirty white" and "greyish" in color.  Often sighted (sic) in support of the claim are two black and white photographs taken during July/August 1944 showing 198's Hawker Typhoons TP.V (MN526) and TP.Q (MN880).  It should be noted that several of the veterans who couldn't recall red code letters in use were flying these very aircraft during the time in question.  (Additional Note:  Several veterans, however, did recall that during 1944 a few of the Squadron's more "flambouyant" Squadron Leaders had the Hawker Typhoon propeller painted red.)"
Source: http://www.198archives.com/198sqdn_050.htm

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by VBF-12_Stick-95

[Pict]

Great looking skin

 

Might just be me, but in the B&W photo the spinner looks to be a similar shade to the red of the tailfin flash. Certainly looks to be a lighter shade that the blades.

 

Could it be that it had a red spinner?

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

5 hours ago, Pict said:

Great looking skin

 

Might just be me, but in the B&W photo the spinner looks to be a similar shade to the red of the tailfin flash. Certainly looks to be a lighter shade that the blades.

 

Could it be that it had a red spinner?

 

Thanks for taking a look.  The plane does have contradictory coloration from specs in it's code letters and that the spinner is black versus the color of the tail band.  I spent time researching these issues to get comfortable with my skin decisions. The photo as part of the comparison has been edited and cropped, I am attaching the "original" below.  First let me say I have looked over a good number of B&W photos trying to draw conclusions through contrast.  Sometimes it is helpful, however, sometimes the film used, the lighting, how it was digitized, the number of times it's been through compression, all take a toll.  Even under the best of circumstances a color can take on a wide variety of shades of grey in B&W. 

To test the similarities of the various grays on the original photo I used Photoshop to check the levels in the red of the tail flash/roundel, the grey of the fuselage, the green camo and the black of the spinner.  The red areas were different from the spinner, as well as the other camo.  The spinner was closest to the green camo.  I did however get a very close match between the red of the tail flash and the roundel.  Even this can be hit and miss depending on how the sunlight is reflecting off the aircraft.

Also the original photo shows four aircraft all with basically the same shade of spinners.  The odds are against them all being red.  A few other 198 photos also have dark spinners.  Although noted above that certain "flambouyant" Squadron Leaders had red spinners, TP-V has no documented pilot that I could find.  Had he been a "flambouyant" Squadron Leader he probably would have been associated with this aircraft in documentation. 

My conclusion through testing, photos and research is that it is very unlikely the spinner was red.  I want to thank you for pointing this out though, I would rather be proven wrong and correct something than leave something out there that is not correct.

 

Stick

 

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by VBF-12_Stick-95

[Pict]

3 hours ago, VBF-12_Stick-95 said:

My conclusion through testing, photos and research is that it is very unlikely the spinner was red.  I want to thank you for pointing this out though, I would rather be proven wrong and correct something than leave something out there that is not correct.

 

No worries, it was just a thought I figured I'd share with you.

 

Everything you say makes sense and like you say even with access to originals, B&W photos of the time are difficult at best to interperit. Looking forward to this one.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

I did a D-Day invasion stripe version of TP-V.  The full invasion stripes are based on how other planes in the squadron were painted during that period taking into consideration the post D-Day period photo available.

 

NOTE: This version has been updated.  See OP for details and download link.

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by VBF-12_Stick-95

[HylaHyla]

Would you be able to provide a download link here? Those of us with poor internet and inability to load HSD would greatly appreciate having this beautiful bird you created! Thank you!

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

2 hours ago, HylaHyla said:

Would you be able to provide a download link here? Those of us with poor internet and inability to load HSD would greatly appreciate having this beautiful bird you created! Thank you!

 

OK, link is in post above.

[EAF19_Marsh]

That is just gorgeous and I will d/l and enjoy tomorrow (if I get 30 mins).  Thank you so much for your work on this. I am massively excited to fly the Tiffie over Normandy!

 

Pict certainly has a point about the spinner shade seeming different, bit it sounds like you went to town on the research so I will agree with you. Did some quick searching and the balance seems to be not red, but possible a minority of slightly odd combinations: https://archive.aeroscale.net/forums/147710/

 

BTW to be nitpicky, it should be ‘cited’ rather than ‘sighted’

Edited August 27, 2022 by EAF19_Marsh

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

3 minutes ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

That is just gorgeous and I will d/l and enjoy tomorrow (if I get 30 mins).  Thank you so much for your work on this. I am so excited to fly the Tiffie over Normandy!

 

Pict certainly has a point about the spinner shape seeming different, bit it sounds like you went to town on the research so I will agree with you. Did some quick searching and the balance seems to be not red, but possible a minority of slightly odd combinations: https://archive.aeroscale.net/forums/147710/

 

BTW to be nitpicky, it should be ‘cited’ rather than ‘sighted’

 

Thanks for the compliment on the skin.  Hope you do enjoy it. 

As far as "sighted" goes, that was a direct cut and paste from the author's article.  Not that I'm above making that mistake.  ?

 

[EAF19_Marsh]

It’s not important - just if you wanted to edit.

 

Hoping to fly it today.

[EAF19_Marsh]

Don't suppose you feel like some night-intruder skins of Tiffie and Hurri for the 1942-43 season...?

 

486 seems to have been a really good bunch of chaps.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

New version of TP-V skins available along with blank skins.  See OP.