Spitfires ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7856

Source, San Diego Air and Space Museum archives, MNUSAF photo archives. Library of Congress photo archives.

Supermarine Spitfire USAAF

Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX

Supermarine Spitfire PRIX USAAF

Supermarine Spitfire MkXI681 Photo Reconnaissance India 1945

Supermarine Spitfire England1944

Supermarine Spitfire MkXI USAAF Oxfordshire 1944

Supermarine Spitfire MkVb USAAF

Supermarine Spitfire MkIX Danish Air Force

Supermarine Spitfire MkIX RAF 129 Sqn 1943 (image flipped)

Supermarine Spitfire MkVb RCAF

Supermarine Spitfire MkVb USAAF in the markings of 309th Fighter Squadron

Supermarine Spitfire MkV

Supermarine Spitfire MkV USAAF

Supermarine Spitfire fighters for the Soviet Air Force Iran 1943

Supermarine Seafire XV Naval Museum of Manitoba

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7856

More informed spitfire folks here on WIX may help out with ID's on some of these images.

Supermarine Seafire fitted with RATOG Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear

RATOG Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear

former Dutch 322 Sqn in RAF service

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:15 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

Looks like a field of FRXVIIIs.
To think only 2 off this type are currently flyable.
JDK or anyone, where was this taken?

Robbo · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:18 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

Source, San Diego Air and Space Museum archives, MNUSAF photo archives. Library of Congress photo archives.

Supermarine Spitfire PRIX USAAF

PL965 is a PR Mk.XI, not a PR Mk.IX and it's still very much alive http://www.hangar11.co.uk/spitfire.html

I'm puzzled by the original photo because I wasn't aware that PL965 had served with the USAAF.

Hangar 11 Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI PL965 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant 05/08/2012_3180 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

Sywell Airshow 2012_5337 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

Shuttleworth Collection Military Pageant 05/08/2012_3170 by shuttleworthpix, on Flickr

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:22 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

Source, San Diego Air and Space Museum archives, MNUSAF photo archives. Library of Congress photo archives.

Supermarine Spitfire MkV

From the fighter pen built right on the cliff edge in the background that photo can only have been taken at the SW corner of RAF Perranporth, Cornwall, so the obscured serial of FU-Z in this case would appear to be Mk.Vb EP605 of 453 Squadron.

All the best,
PB

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:16 pm

I have a question that I don't believe I've ever seen answered, what exactly was the purpose of the oval plexiglass panel on the left outside of the early sliding canopies particularly since it had at least 4 bolts holding it on?

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3332

Robbo wrote:

Mark Allen M wrote:

Source, San Diego Air and Space Museum archives, MNUSAF photo archives. Library of Congress photo archives.

Supermarine Spitfire PRIX USAAF

PL965 is a PR Mk.XI, not a PR Mk.IX and it's still very much alive http://www.hangar11.co.uk/spitfire.html

I'm puzzled by the original photo because I wasn't aware that PL965 had served with the USAAF.

My guess would be Mark Hanna in the cockpit, circa 1993 timeframe. It wore this scheme when first restored at Rochester.

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:31 am

51fixer wrote:

Looks like a field of FRXVIIIs.
To think only 2 off this type are currently flyable.
JDK or anyone, where was this taken?

Not my field, Rich, but it's Kai Tak, Hong Kong, I think:

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/d4 ... 95fbf.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Tak_Airport

Regards,

Hunterfan · **Joined:** Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:08 pm **Posts:** 46

I think the Hong Kong airfield is more likely to be Sek Kong, which is inland and has high ground nearby.

Its last use by the RAF was as a helicopter base, until the return to Chinese rule.

Indian head · **Joined:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:31 pm **Posts:** 71

They are cracking images, Mark; thanks for posting them. That shot of JK101 is a real classic!

It's always fascinating for me to see images of the aircraft in the field, showing what they really looked like. The variation in markings and colours should be a real education for those who like to micro-analyse Spitfire colour schemes, there may have been an official factory standard but out there on the squadrons, almost anything could occur.

Sopwith · **Joined:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:49 pm **Posts:** 549

The Inspector wrote:

I have a question that I don't believe I've ever seen answered, what exactly was the purpose of the oval plexiglass panel on the left outside of the early sliding canopies particularly since it had at least 4 bolts holding it on?

As far as I can ascertain it is a knock out panel for clear vision,if that helps.

Mark V · **Posted:** Sun Nov 04, 2012 7:25 pm

Spitfire PR.XI did not serve with the USAAF - but the owner at the time of its restoration in 1992 decided to have it painted in USAAF colors. The later colour shots show PL965 as she flies today, in her original 16 Squadron (2nd TAF) colors when based in Belgium, Spring 1945.

Mike, yes that would be Mark in the cockpit.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Sun Nov 04, 2012 7:54 pm

Some really great images here. Thanks again Mark for making the effort to assemble and post these.

Hey Rich. Do you (or anyone I guess) know how to tell a Mk XVIII from a low back Mk XIV at a glance? (5 bladed Griffon spits look bada$$!!)
The four bladed Griffon Spit (Mk XII) and the Canadian Seafire XV's look pretty cool too. I have yet to see an unatractive Spitfire/Seafire. Even the brutish MK47

Inspector, I agreee about the clear vision knock out panel. I guess they got discontinued early on for not being particularly relevant.

I also like the observation about markings in the field. I'm sure if you asked the guys in the trench what they did or used, they'd say something like. "We used what we had" Factory delivery specs be darned.

Yay Spitfires!!!! :spit

Andy Scott

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:34 pm

Sopwith wrote:

The Inspector wrote:

I have a question that I don't believe I've ever seen answered, what exactly was the purpose of the oval plexiglass panel on the left outside of the early sliding canopies particularly since it had at least 4 bolts holding it on?

As far as I can ascertain it is a knock out panel for clear vision,if that helps.

That'll work! Beats my guess that it was for the driveup lane at the bank THANX :drink3:

Robbo · **Posted:** Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:45 pm

Mark V wrote:

Spitfire PR.XI did not serve with the USAAF - but the owner at the time of its restoration in 1992 decided to have it painted in USAAF colors. The later colour shots show PL965 as she flies today, in her original 16 Squadron (2nd TAF) colors when based in Belgium, Spring 1945.

Mike, yes that would be Mark in the cockpit.

Steve, that's why it threw me. At the time I was more absorbed with Skipton Birds than Warbairds. I'm surprised that this photo appeared in an archive with wartime images. There are some great photos, thanks to Mark for sharing them.

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