NB: This profile is incorrect and has been updated. Please read this post for extra information.

Last week I posted a profile of Clostermann’s SN222, explaining that the aircraft later received additional markings and a brighter shade of red for the roundel and fin flash. This is how “Le Grand Charles” appeared after the night of 8/9 May 1945, exactly 72 years ago.

The most notable difference is of course the addition of No 3 Squadron’s badge on the fin of the aircraft. Although distinctive unit markings were common before and after the war, very few RAF units carried them during the conflict.

For comparison, here is how SN222 looked on the previous day:

NB: This profile is incorrect and has been updated. Please read this post for extra information.

Clostermann is arguably the most famous Tempest ace. SN222 is one of the Tempest Mk V Series 2 he flew and is represented as it looked in early May 1945.

During the night of 8/9 May, the aircraft received the No 3 Squadron logo on its tail, and the Dull Red of the roundel and fin flash was replaced by a brighter shade of red. SN222 has mostly been represented with these additional markings, but is here presented in its actual late wartime markings.

These four views were used for the creation of a maxFlite prop glider, which can be purchased directly from the maxFlite website.