Your Spitfire XVI quiz question of the day.

[Kev367th]

#1 is an LF.IXe or XVI.

#2 is an LF.IX....I think

#3 is most likely an LF.IXe

#4 is an LF.IX

#5 is an LF.IX  (I don't recall any XVI's going to the Russians)

#6 is an LF.IX

#7 is an VIII, most likely an LF


To be perfectly honest, I don't know of any way to tell an LF.IXe from a Mk XVI just by looking at it. I'd have to look up serial numbers to be sure.   #7 was particularly easy though.

Are a couple ways ....sometimes.

XVI's only ever had 4 'spoke' wheels, IX's had 5 and 4 spoke.
XVI's only ever had a pointed broad chord rudder, IX's also had the earlier 'round' rudder.
Plus if Russian they only got V's and LFIXs.

[Guppy35]

That's a Volkes filter (which thanks to Wikipedia has morphed into "Vokes (sic)" as that is the way it is pronounced.) and many MTO VC's were modified in Egypt by an operational maintenance unit at Aboukir to replace the Volkes with the still bulky, but much more streamlined and efficient "Aboukir" filter.

Probably using the word 'many' is misleading as the majority of Spitfire Vs continued to use the larger filter in the MTO. The photo shown is a later Vc taken during time in Italy.  Don't want folks getting the wrong idea.  You know how that goes in AH.  I saw one! I saw one!  We have to have it!

[uptown]

If you could pick any Spitfire to have in the game, which one would it be, and why?

It'd be interesting to hear from the Brits on their favorite.

[palef]

Mk. VIII because one of our RNZAF (attached to RAAF at the time) aces flew it in Burma.

[RTR]

350 Squadron were Spit 14s.

I'm not asking as a reason to lose the Spit 16 btw.  I just got curious after going through the 602 and 603 histories.  The best bet would probably have to be the Canadians as they had a number of squadrons in Spit XVIs.  The Poles did too.

It does point to the increased use of the Spit LFIX and LFXVI in the ground attack role after D-Day with 2 TAF and the lack of targets in the air.

In fact..421 Squadron was the only Canadian Squadron to equip with the Spitfire MK XVI during the war. They were stood down in December of 1945, and not active again for a few years.

As an interesting side note (to me anyway), I served with 421 Red Indian Squadron from 1986 through 1990 in Baden West Germany. Early 1986 we had a mixed squadron of CF104's and CF18's. By Late summer of that year we were finally fully equipped with the Cf18 and deemed combat ready. Was an exciting time.

cheers,
RTR

[Guppy35]

In fact..421 Squadron was the only Canadian Squadron to equip with the Spitfire MK XVI during the war. They were stood down in December of 1945, and not active again for a few years.

As an interesting side note (to me anyway), I served with 421 Red Indian Squadron from 1986 through 1990 in Baden West Germany. Early 1986 we had a mixed squadron of CF104's and CF18's. By Late summer of that year we were finally fully equipped with the Cf18 and deemed combat ready. Was an exciting time.

cheers,
RTR

Gotta be more then just 421.  403 had them for sure before the war ended as well.  Not near the books at the moment, but I'm almost sure it's more then those two as well.  I'm pretty sure 443 had them as well among others.

[Bronk]

If you could pick any Spitfire to have in the game, which one would it be, and why?

It'd be interesting to hear from the Brits on their favorite.

Mk XII... for the whine.

[Guppy35]

If you could pick any Spitfire to have in the game, which one would it be, and why?

It'd be interesting to hear from the Brits on their favorite.

Spit XII.

Best bunch of guys I ever met or corresponded with.  41 and 91 squadrons.  Getting to pretend to fly a Spit XII and imagine crossing the Channel in the Summer and Fall of 43 to do battle with the Luftwaffe, would be great fun.

And as Bronk mentions, the whines would be enormous

[Guppy35]

In fact..421 Squadron was the only Canadian Squadron to equip with the Spitfire MK XVI during the war. They were stood down in December of 1945, and not active again for a few years.

As an interesting side note (to me anyway), I served with 421 Red Indian Squadron from 1986 through 1990 in Baden West Germany. Early 1986 we had a mixed squadron of CF104's and CF18's. By Late summer of that year we were finally fully equipped with the Cf18 and deemed combat ready. Was an exciting time.

cheers,
RTR

Just checked.  416 also had Spit 16s.  127 Wing made up of Canadians all had XVIs before the war ended.  That was 403, 416 and 421 squadrons RCAF.

[lyric1]

I am not in this circle of thinking just thought I would throw in the picture to make the Spit 16 haters feel better.

[RTR]

Just checked.  416 also had Spit 16s.  127 Wing made up of Canadians all had XVIs before the war ended.  That was 403, 416 and 421 squadrons RCAF.

where did you find that info Guppy?

I'd be interested in reading it, any references I have found state 421 was the only sqn to equip with the XVI.

Funny how we lose historical information in a relatively few short years.

Thanks for the info.

cheers,

RTR

[RTR]

oops..nm Found what I was looking for. Dopey me..
Thanks Guppy.

cheers,
RTR

[321BAR]

Forget the SpitXVI. I say the SpitIX is the way to go just because before the VIII XIV and XVI the IX was the god... and even in AHI the SPIT V was one of the better...

[Pudgie]

Thanks Guppy35 for all the Spit info......................... ..............was very informative.

 

As for me I favor the Mk IX most, Mk V next then the Mk VIII.

Yes I'm a Spit dweeb! I LOVE Spits.

So there.

 

[SmokinLoon]

I find it amusing that the Spit16 was usually designed (and used) for the ground attack role vs the air to air role... and yet it is one fo teh the best air to air fighters of AH.  I bet the ratio of air to air missions for the Spit16 is at minimum 25 to 1 over the air to ground.

The other ironic thing is the beloved Tempest was limited to the ground attack role in the real deal, but yet is the most feared air to air prop fighter in AH.