Spitfire IX question...

[Fencer51]

Mk IXs In the Mediterranea Theate:

The entry into service of the Spitfire Mk IX enabled RAF Fighter Command to regain the air superiority it had lost over north west Eurpe to the Fw 190.  In the Mediterranean theatre it was the same story, though not until the Mk IX arrived there early in 1943.  The first unit to receive it, No 81 Sqn base at Constantine in Algeria, went into action with its new aircraft on 31 January, and soon afterwards a second unit, No 72 Sqn based at Souk el Kemis in Tunisia, also received Mk IXs.

Page 15 of Late Marque Spitfire Aces 1942-45 by Dr Alfred Price

The first production Mk IXs were delivered in June 1942, and No 64 Sqn at Hornchurch duly became the premier unit to re-equip with the new variant.  On 28 July it was declared operational, and after a couple of operations that saw no contact made with the enemy, Donald Kingaby gained the first victory in a MKk IX on the 30th.

Page 9 of Late Marque Spitifre Aces 1942-45 by Dr Alfred Price

[Squire]

As has been pointed out, Spit V is not a Spit V.

You have the L.F. V

...and the V.

Different animals, but almost all sources will just say "Spitfire V".

As for the service dates, as above, from my sources, looks like its been covered.

"Ratios?" good luck finding that.

...and even if you did, again, they are misleading, example, 11 Group ADGB bore the brunt of ops against France 42-43, yet 12 and 10 Grps were "operational" with Spit Vs as well, so its a misleading # anyways.

Regards.

[Bruno]

Originally posted by mw
Hiyas:

Kev & Angus are on it, however, if I may chip in:

Spitfire IX

ETO

64 Squadron:  Hornchurch - June 42. Operations Record Book
401 Squadron: Biggin Hill - July 42. ORB
402 Squadron:  Redhill - Aug 42.  ORB
611 Squadron:  Redhill - July 42. ORB

MTO

81 Squadron:  Bone, Algeria - Jan 43. Colin Gray
72 Squadron: Souk-el-Kemis, Tunisia - Jan/Feb 43.  Bobby Oxspring
92 Squadron:  Bu Grara, Libya - March 43.  Neville Duke
145 Squadron:  Bu Grara, Libya - March 43.  Rawlings

By the time of the Sicily invasion (Operation Husky) in July 43 at least 26 Squadrons based in North Africa and Malta were equipped in whole or part with Spitfire IXs.

See also: Spitfire IX

Spitfire VIII

145 Squadron:  Malta - June 43. Rawlings
244 Wing: 92, 145, 417, 601 used Spitfire VIIIs during Sicily invasion

See also: Spitfire VIII

Mike

Do you happen to know how many Squadrons were equipped with Spitfire Vs from July to September 43?

[Squire]

The "Polish Fighting Team" was an early user of the Spit IX in N. Africa, I would look there as well.

Spit VIII seems to be from 145 Sqn Malta "June 43" (Alfred Price). They also served from the summer of 1943 from bases in Italy (RAF and RCAF), same source (Price).

USAAF 31st FG was the first American grp to use the VIII in combat, from August 1943 (over Sicily), I dont have an exact source though, perhaps Guppy has something more definitive?

Here is a link from a page, it does give some info, but I cant verify it (2nd paragraph down):

http://www.spitfireperformance.com/spitfire-VIII.html

[mw]

Hi Squire:

I have documents showing the 31st FG using Spitfire VIIIs in July 1943 while based at Gozo (adjacent to Malta).  The Unit History mentions conversion to IXs in April and VIIIs in May while still in North Africa.   For sure that's true for the IXs but its less clear with respect to the VIIIs.  52nd FG had some VIIIs as well.

For example:

309th FS Mission Report for 11 July 1943

Mike

[Guppy35]

Best I can do by taking the order of battle for the MTO Air Command and adding the dates the IX or VIII made their appearance with those Spitfire Squadrons.  Hope it helps.  I realize this is mid 43 but its the best I can come up with at the moment.

Order of Battle is from "Royal Air Force 1939-1945, Volme II The Fight Avails" by Denis Richards and Hilary St. George Saunders.

Mk IX entering squadron service dates from "Profile 206 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX" By Peter Moss and Len Bachelor


From the order of battle MTO Air Command 10 July 1943

Spitfire units are listed as:

AHQ Gibralter:
No 544 Detachment  Spitfire (Thinking these are Photo Recce Spits PR IVs

AHQ Malta:
Squadrons
No's 40(SAAF) 126, 185, (Spitfire Vb, Vc)   229, 249  (Spitfire IX from April 43)

No 1435 Flight   Spitfire IXs from March 1943

No 683 Squadron  Spitfire Vc

Northwest African Air Forces
NA Tactical Air Force
No 40 (SAAF) detachment  Spitfire Vb

211 Group
No's 2 (SAAF),   Spitfire Vc  (2 Squadron is the only one I've found to have used the 4 cannon Vc in the ground attack role.
4 (SAAF) Spitfire IX July 43

244 Wing
1 SAAF, Spitfire Vc
92(Spit IX July 43-Sept 43), Spitfire VIII
145  Spitfire IX  VIII(from June 43)
417 RCAF Spitfire VIII (Summer 43)
601.  Spitfire V

No 322 Wing
81(Spit IX March 43)
152, Spitfire IX all of 1943
154, Spitfire Vc
232, Spitfire IX all of 43
242  Spitfire Vc

No 324 Wing

43(IX August 43),
72(Spit Vc),
93(Spit IXs October 43),
111(Spit IX July 43),
243  Spitfire Vc

US XII Air Support Command
31st FG  3 Squadrons  Spitfires  (Spitfire Vc,Spitfire IX, VIII, operating at the same time throughout the different squadrons)

No 242 Group
No 73 Squadron  Spitfire (Spitfire Vc)
II/7 French  Spitfire V

No 328 Wing.  
US 52nd FG, three squadrons-Spitfire (Spitfire Vc, Spitfire IX, MkVIII operating at the  same time)

NA Photo Recon Wing
682 Squadron  Spitfire

HQ RAF Middle East
680 Squadron  Spitfire V

HQ Air Defenses Eastern Med
127 Squadron  Spitfire V

No 212 Group
No 80 Squadron   Spitfire Vc

[Bruno]

Good enough = Thanks Dan...