old iron wrote:
.....But there is an important distinction here: WWII tanks still had some credibility as military weapons in the 1960s. Spitfires ... no. Contemporary aircraft were so much more superior in every category, including range. Parts and maintenance of WWII aircraft would have also been significant, and a bigger issue than for tanks. There was not even any reason for using these in training. Spitfires in 1967 would be akin to using SPADs in 1942....
But I politely observe that several nations were still using piston WWII era aircraft into the 60's and 70's (and even 1980's with the P-51s in the Dominican Republic). Heck Mexico was using Stearmans even later, so I think "akin to using SPADs in 1942" is a bit extreme.
P-51's, A-26s, Corsairs, T-6's and Sea Furys were earning their keep well after the 1940's. Mostly with third tier operators on limited budgets. The A-1 was still in US Service.
The Syrian Air Force suffered various fits and starts during the 50's and 60's, with on and off again aircraft deals from both the west and the east, and faced some time essentially in exile in Egypt. Meteors were held up by the UK, Soviet jets were similarly held up as Syria looked East. It would not be too much of a stretch to imagine a few Spitfires lingering at home bases in Syria with some of the older pilots.