LoRes Weathered Hawker Typhoon Mk1b "RAF 245th.Sqdn.121Wing" for Emil's ETO 9th.USAAF.& 2nd.TAF Campaign

This LoRes Weathered skin is of the RAF 245th.Sqdn. Typhoon Mk1b."MR-U" late production (circa: June 1944) with the slide back bubble canopy and she is fully dressed in her D-Day invasion stripping. This Typhoon Rocket Projectile Squadron was the third of three units that formed the 121 RAF Wing of the 2nd.TAF


The 245th. Squadron's motto was "I put to fight, I do not flee".

The squadron was formed at  Leconfield on 30 October 1939 equipped with Blenheim fighters and from January 1940, Battles.  Both of these types were replaced by Hurricanes in March 1940 an in May it moved to Drem in Scotland.  However, during the Dunkirk evacuation it operated a detachment from Hawkinge but in July it was transferred to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland, where it remained throughout the Battle of Britain on defensive duties.

In July 1941 it moved to Ballyhalbert and remained there until September 1941, when it returned to England and began offensive sweeps.   In January 1943, it moved to Scotland, again, where it began converting to Typhoons, taking these back down south in March. The 245th. Squadron was allocated to the 2nd Tactical Air Force on its formation in June 1943 and soon began attacking enemy lines of communication and other suitable targets in preparation for Operation Overlord.  From April it began using rocket projectiles, on 27 June 1944 it moved to Airstrip "B5" at Le Fresne Camilly, France less than a mile from the frontlines. From here it started to support the Allied advance through France, the Low Countries and into Germany.  The squadron disbanded in Germany on 10 August 1945.

This particular Typhoon "MR-U"  was flown by Flight Lieutenant John Golley, who as member of the 245th., took part in those first critical days after D-Day on the European continent. Although never scoring a single dogfight victory during this time, he did however inflict crucial destruction, during 73 missions, on the German Army's armour over such battle grounds as Caen, Mortain and the Falaise Gap. His exploites were well documented in the book "The Day Of The Typhoon" of which he authored. 


I developed this project from a base skin/model provided in Emil's TAF Skin Pack. I used a variety of rendering technics to change the squadron Codes, add more detail and enhance this aircraft's operational weathering look.
This skin "MR-U" was an actual member of the RAF 245th.Squadron piloted by Flt.Lt. J.Golley....

The aircraft's colour scheme and Squadron markings where derived from a coloured aircraft profile plate found in the 1999 Osprey Aircraft of The Aces #27 Publication "Typhoon and Tempest Aces of World War 2" series by Chris Thomas. All operational reference material came also from the "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation Website".... http://www.rafweb.org/Menu.htm

The base skin was taken from Emil's ETO 9th.USAAF/2nd.TAF Campaign so the original creator of this skin is unknown. Included with this is Migge's excellent 'Typhoon Virtual Cockpit' with the 'Wing View' modified by your's truly. RAF Mark2 Gunsight by PapaRomeo for period authenticity... 

Special thanks to Shawn Griffin for his excellent LoRes Batch File Converter Utility...    

The download includes all *.tpc, *.3dz and *.pcx files. The latter begin included so you can review how the graphic weathering techniques were done....
To install simple copy all the *.tpc and *.3dz files into your EAW main directory or as required by 'Stab' or 'Skins & More'....  

Enjoy and watch your six .... Skylark 