251 Mk VIIIs (A58-300/550)and 159 HF Mk VIIIs (A58-600/758) served with the RAAF.
Equipping 79, 85, 452, 457 RAAF
and Nos 54, 548 and 549 Sqns RAF in Australian service.
Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII
POWER PLANT: One 1,520 hp Merlin 61, or 1,710 hp Merlin 63/63A.
DIMENSIONS: Span, 36 ft. 10 ins.; length, 31 ft. 3 1/2 ins; height, 11 ft. 8 1/2 ins.
WEIGHTS: Loaded, 7,767 lb; max. permissible, 8,000 lb.
PERFORMANCE: Max speed. 408 mph at 25,000 ft. Climb rate, 7 mins to 20,000
ft. Service ceiling, 43,000 ft.
ARMAMENT: Two 20 mm cannons plus four 0.303 guns, and 1,000 lb of bombs.
Tronsky
486 Sqn (NZ), "hiwa hau maka"