Eduard Hawker Typhoon, 609 Sq, May 1943

No. 609 Squadron was formed on February 10th, 1936 at RAF Yeadon (currently Leeds Bradford) as part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and was equipped with bombers. In 1938 the unit became a part of Fighter Command and in August 1939 received the Spitfire Mk.I. In the spring of 1942, it was re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk.V to be soon replaced with the new Hawker Typhoon. Members of the unit then served out the war on the type, ending it based at Plantlünne in Germany. The illustrated aircraft is painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the lowers. Due to the distinct possibility of being confused with the Fw 190, the aircraft received quick identification markings in the form of a white nose beginning November 19th, 1942. This included the spinner. This marking was used until December 5th, 1942. The newly painted areas, being freshly applied, tended to be conspicuous. Another marking that helped distinguish the Typhoon from the Fw 190 were the black and white stripes on the bottom of the wings. The white bands were specified to be 24 inches wide, and the black ones twelve. The name 'Mavis' (probably name of wife or girlfriend of P/O Peter Raw, who flown often this aircraft)
and the silhouettes of 18 locomotives symbolizing successful ground attack missions appear on the right side of the fuselage. The spinner is often pictured as being partially in red and Sky. Current research suggests Ocean Grey and Sky.
This would have been common to aircraft of No.609 Squadron.