Kiwi Spitfire Ace Jack Rae and his Spitfire Vb - assistance needed!

[overscan]

Not a what-if, but I need some markings help.

A relative of Kiwi Spitfire Pilot 'Jack' (J D) Rae is looking to get a Spitfire tattoo and is looking to me (as the only aircraft nut she knows) for source material to get the most accurate tattoo.

Jack Rae flew with 485 Squadron in Britain, and also flew over Malta, returning to Britain before being shot down and captured.

I have a photo of him in front of what seems to be a Spitfire Vb.



I also found details of a 485 Squadron Spitfire Vb he definitely flew and which I hope is the Spitfire in the picture:

Serial: AB 972
Mark Vb
Merlin 45
Code letter "OU - G"
From 452 Sqn RAAF
Joined Sqn 7 Sep 1941
Named Exonian IV
Renamed for press purposes Auckland II & V
Sgt J D Rae 1 Possible Me 109 F 2 Oct 1941
Sgt J D Rae 1 Possible Me 109 F 6 Nov 1941
Sgt J D Rae 1 Possible Me 109 E 12 Feb 1942
Sgt J D Rae 1 Destroyed FW 190 28 Mar 1942
Sgt J D Rae 1 Destroyed FW 190 28 Mar 1942
Left Sqn 5 May 1942

(source: https://steemit.com/history/@len.george/supermarine-spitfire-mk-v-on-485-nz-sqn-1941-to-1945-part-2?fbclid=iwar1om99do7amoywwwurnwnv4wpp8qvxp0pnvuzftggu1c6hhcxl09oifrnc)

Any assistance on getting the correct colours / markings would be appreciated. I'm commissioning Chris Sandham-Bailey to draw a profile for her to take to the tattoo artist.

[zenrat]

Over to you Lee...

[The Wooksta!]

Likely 1942 colours - Ocean Grey and Dark Green uppers in standard A scheme over Med Sea Grey undersurfaces.  Sky spinner and fuselage band.  Type C1a roundel on fuselage, likely type C fin flash.  Type C1 roundel underwing and Type B wing upper. Sky code letters and 24inch height.

May not be quite right, but without a decent photo to prove you wrong, it's as good as you'll get.

These could be either mk IIas or Mk Va's. Edit: IIa at Kirton on Lindsay, late 1941.



This is supposedly 452 Sqn but the codes don't match what Zac is saying.





That's late 1941, so the colours are likely Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky with Type A markings and Med Sea Grey OR Sky codes.  Yellow leading edges and Sky tail band. 

Article on 452 Sqn Vb from Sniperscale:
http://www.hyperscale.com/features/2000/spitfirevbbg_1.htm

Edit: Obviously, I've read something wrong but Zac's given me two different sqn numbers and I've went for the latter.  A search for the former gives me this review from Sniperscale for a DK Decals Spitfire sheet with presentation aircraft for 485 Sqn RNZAF.  This should give a better idea of colours and schemes. 

http://www.hyperscale.com/2016/reviews/decals/dk72034reviewmd_1.htm

41-42 is a real minefield and you really need a photo to pin it down.