Author Topic: Spitfire IX question... (Read 1451 times)

Bruno · « **on:** May 17, 2007, 01:31:53 AM »

What was the first RAF squadron to transition to the Spitfire IX? What was the service date? When did the Spitfire IX enter service in the MTO (which squadron)? Please source your answer...

Same question in regards to the Spitfire VIII.

TIA

Karnak · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:15:05 AM »

Just did a cursory look through my books and came up dry. Sadly my Spitfire books are mostly technical in nature.

Dan or Kev should be able to shed some light though.

First Spit VIII squad in CBI was April, 1944, possibly with 136 Squadron. (Spitfire Flying Legend; Dibbs, John and Holmes, Tony; Osprey Pub; page 67, ISBN 1 855325942).

Not what you were looking for though. Just what I found.

Serenity · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:19:23 AM »

Sorry, dry here as well

All ive got is that roughly 5,560 were produced, and it was a rushed version to counter the Fw-190. Doubt that helps, but hey...

Kev367th · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:35:37 AM »

Will dig around, but basically -

ETO

F IX - July 1942, 64 sqn Hornchurch. (first combat kill by F IX July 30)
LF IX - March 1943, 611 and 341 sqns Biggin Hill.
LF IXe - Difficult, prior to June 1944. (some field mod kits)
HF IX - Spring 1943, 64 sqn
XVI - Oct 1944, 443 Sqn

First use of 25lbs boost -
LF IX - 165 sqn May 1944

MTO -
more details to follow.

Serentiy - that figure is for all versions of IX, the LF IX comprises some 4010 of them on its own, whch leaves around 1500 F IX and HF IX.

Edited to include the XVI as its basically an LF IXe.

Serenity · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:44:23 AM »

Ah, thanks. That was from a book that pretty much has EVERY WWII plane, so none are done in terribly much detail.

Angus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:51:47 AM »

The VIII entered in the MTO in 1943

Kev367th · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:05:02 AM »

MTO -
F IX - Dec 1942, attached to 145sqn ???????
VIII - June 1943, 145sqn

Angus · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:41:37 AM »

145 sqn = part of 244 wing together with 92 and 601 as well as hosting the Polish. (Polish Fighting Team abbrev. PFT)
Had the IX in March and the VIII in June.
92 and 601 followed the same line, just a little later.
One heck of a fighting team there, - names like Skalski, Duncan Smith, Neville Duke....

Kev367th · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2007, 06:36:04 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Angus
145 sqn = part of 244 wing together with 92 and 601 as well as hosting the Polish. (Polish Fighting Team abbrev. PFT)
Had the IX in March and the VIII in June.
92 and 601 followed the same line, just a little later.
One heck of a fighting team there, - names like Skalski, Duncan Smith, Neville Duke....

A small contingent (unknown how many) of F IX were attached to 145 in Dec 1942 once the 190's started showing up there.

This would be the first use of F IX in the MTO.

Bruno · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2007, 10:37:01 AM »

I have good dates for the service introduction for the IX and VIII - However, in regards to specific theaters its a bit harder to to narrow down the data.

I know that there were still a lot of Spit Vs in service going into 1943. I know that most of the Spitfire squadrons stationed in England received Spitfire IXs first. I know that many Spitfire squadrons else where, particularly in the Med, where still equipped with Spitfire Vs.

I wonder if its possible to establish - on a per squadron basis - the ratio of Spitfire XIs to Spitfire Vs for the year 1943 in the MTO?

TIA

Kev367th · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:33:59 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bruno
I have good dates for the service introduction for the IX and VIII - However, in regards to specific theaters its a bit harder to to narrow down the data.

I know that there were still a lot of Spit Vs in service going into 1943. I know that most of the Spitfire squadrons stationed in England received Spitfire IXs first. I know that many Spitfire squadrons else where, particularly in the Med, where still equipped with Spitfire Vs.

I wonder if its possible to establish - on a per squadron basis - the ratio of Spitfire XIs to Spitfire Vs for the year 1943 in the MTO?

TIA

Only problem with that -

The ratio would change as the year progressed.

Plus if it's for some scenario you have to remember that our V only represents a 1941 Vb.
By 1942 you had the F Vc, LF Vc, by 1943 the LF Vc 'CCC' version. (Clipped, Cropped and Clapped)
All 3 would have been in the MTO by 1943 (with the Vb being very rare) in addition to the IX's and VIII's.

zorstorer · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2007, 05:08:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kev367th
...Clapped...

I know what the other two are...but whats clapped?

Kev367th · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2007, 05:34:03 PM »

It's British slang for worn out.

Referring to the fact they were old.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2007, 06:10:40 PM »

At work at the moment. Should be able to help narrow it down for you Bruno when I get home, which will be late tonite.

mw · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2007, 07:52:41 PM »

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