Guppy35 asked if I could so some 417 Squadron RCAF Spitfire skins for him. Jocko's done a few excellent ones already but these lack the latest AH3 lighting files and so look way too shiny now. His skins include AN-U below which I'll adopt.
The only RCAF squadron to serve in the Desert Air Force 417 "City of Windsor" Squadron supported and covered the British Eight Army in their campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy.
AN-V was a well-worn Spitfire Mk V that served with 417 Squadron in 1943 during the Tunisian Campaign. It shows a lot of evidence of patched up paintwork.
AN-M was an early production Spitfire Mk VIII that in RL had extended wing tips and the small rounded rudder. It flew with 92 and 208 Squadrons before being transferred to 417 Squadron in Italy.
AN-U was a later production Spitfire Mk VIII delivered to the Middle East theatre in 1943 in desert camouflage where it served with the USAAF's 31st FG. After being transferred to 417 Squadron in 1944 its upper camouflage colours were changed to dark Green and Ocean Grey with a Sky band although the original lower Azure Blue and red spinner seems to have been retained. Presumably this was to better blend in with the greener terrain in Northern Italy.
