So why's the gate guardian at Benson all over PRU blue? Was that an earlier scheme?
The Benson Spit (or at least the plastic replica that sits there now) represents a
PR variant, and overall PRU blue was used for
PR throughout the war and for a number of years afterwards. The Mks. VI and VII were high altitude fighters, and their colour scheme was specified by Fighter Command. Early Vampires and Hornets were the last fighters to use the scheme in about 1947-48. Interestingly, in the early 1950s high altitude
PR aircraft were repainted with the medium sea grey on the upper surfaces as well, and I think the Meteor
PR. 10 was the last type to use it. The final Spitfires at THUM Flight retained overall PRU blue.