spitfire wing armament options

[Ack-Ack]

gee,i dont remember seeing a spit in the hanger with 4 x 20mm... maybe i missed it

No, what you missed was a clue. 

ack-ack

[Guppy35]

quite a few MKVIII squadrons would  swap 1/2 of the flight  to the 4 20mm options a day before they were going on ground attack missions  the other half keeping the 2 20mm 4 303 as top cover . then change back ready for  a mission a day or so later . took 4-6 hours to swap over load outs (not including loading ammo) so as long as they had time to plan they would swap over ready . Most pilot s would realise what the next day had in store when they saw the ground crew looking miffed as the WC would give them a sheet of paper with the next days requirements were. 

please show me a photo or some reference to this somewhere...anywhere.  I've never seen it in 30+ years of Spitfire research.  I'm not saying you are wrong, as there is always a chance I've missed it, but I would really like to see some actual documentation of this somewhere.

Just because in theory it was possible, didn't mean it happened.  Name the 'quite a few" squadrons please so I can do my own research through my Spit stuff.

[B3YT]

my mates got my book . It wasn't  always done but the NZ and Australians seemed to like  doing it especially later in the war over Burma  when there were less IJA flights . Biggest problem is that cos only a select few of the flight were kitted out this way you can't say it was squadron strength  . One pilot talked about the two right guns jamming on him while strafing a AA gun and skidding .

[Guppy35]

my mates got my book . It wasn't  always done but the NZ and Australians seemed to like  doing it especially later in the war over Burma  when there were less IJA flights . Biggest problem is that cos only a select few of the flight were kitted out this way you can't say it was squadron strength  . One pilot talked about the two right guns jamming on him while strafing a AA gun and skidding .

Do check which squadrons for me will you?  What book was it?

It went from many squadrons now to maybe some in the CBI.  The Aussies weren't there but alongside the 5th AF guys in the Pacific and I've yet to see any photos beyond one that showed a 4 cannon VIII that was supposedly for chasing high alt Japanese recce birds.  It's the only photo of a VIII that shows up with 4 cannons, repeatedly.  Same image.

I don't know that the New Zealanders had any Spit Squadrons in the CBI.

If it's accurate, it still speaks to ground strafing as the reason for the 4 cannon Spit Vcs flown by the South African squadron.  It was not for air to air.