Spitfire (Total: 20,815, Canadian: 40, Group 40)
Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VI, RCAF (Serial No. X4492), in flight, 26 Feb 1944.
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, using several wing configurations, and it was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. It was also the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war. The Spitfire continues to be popular among enthusiasts; around 70 remain airworthy, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world.
The Spitfire was designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft by R. J. Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine Aviation Works, which operated as a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrong from 1928. Mitchell pushed the Spitfire's distinctive elliptical wing with cutting-edge sunken rivets (designed by Beverley Shenstone) to have the thinnest possible cross-section, helping give the aircraft a higher top speed than several contemporary fighters, including the Hawker Hurricane.
The Spitfire had detachable wing tips which were secured by two mounting points at the end of each main wing assembly. When the Spitfire took on a role as a high-altitude fighter (Marks VI and VII and some early Mk VIIIs), the standard wing tips were replaced by extended, "pointed" tips which increased the wingspan from 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) to 40 ft 2 in (12.24 m). The other wing-tip variation, used by several Spitfire variants, was the "clipped" wing; the standard wing tips were replaced by wooden fairings which reduced the span by 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m). The wing tips used spruce formers for most of the internal structure with a light alloy skin attached using brass screws.
Due to a shortage of Brownings, which had been selected as the new standard rifle calibre machine gun for the RAF in 1934, early Spitfires were fitted with only four guns, with the other four fitted later. Early tests showed that, while the guns worked perfectly on the ground and at low altitudes, they tended to freeze at high altitude, especially the outer wing guns, because the RAF's Brownings had been modified to fire from an open bolt. While this prevented overheating of the cordite used in British ammunition, it allowed cold air to flow through the barrel unhindered. Supermarine did not fix the problem until October 1938, when they added hot air ducts from the rear of the wing-mounted radiators to the guns, and bulkheads around the gunbays to trap the hot air in the wing. Red fabric patches were doped over the gun ports to protect the guns from cold, dirt, and moisture until they were fired.
The first Rolls-Royce Griffon-engined Mk XII flew in August 1942, and first flew operationally with 41 Squadron in April 1943. This mark could nudge 400 mph (640 km/h) in level flight and climb to an altitude of 33,000 ft (10,000 m) in under nine minutes. As American fighters took over the long-range escorting of USAAF daylight bombing raids, the Griffon-engined Spitfires progressively took up the tactical air superiority role, and played a major role in intercepting V-1 flying bombs, while the Merlin-engined variants (mainly the Mk IX and the Packard-engined Mk XVI) were adapted to the fighter-bomber role. Although the later Griffon-engined marks lost some of the favourable handling characteristics of their Merlin-powered predecessors, they could still outmanoeuvre their main German foes and other, later American and British-designed fighters.Wikipedia
Wikipedia Supermarine Spitfire
Harold A Skaarup Web Page
YouTube How the Spitfire Became an Aviation Masterpiece
RCAF Supermarine Spitfire Serials - Kestrel PublicationsSpitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW344
s/n RW344
Castle Bromwich
RW 344
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 29-06-1945 308S 30-08-1946 CAC ops 03-09-1946 350S 26-09-1946 BAF BAFO on loan pending del FXIV 26-10-1946
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW345
s/n RW345
Castle Bromwich
RW 345
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
39MU 26-06-1945 33MU 13-10-1949 3CAACU 04-06-1951 CRS Middle Wallop 17-10-1951 nes 13-12-1954 RAF Kenley for use in film 16-08-1955 sold scrap Cox and Darks 30-04-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW346
s/n RW346
Castle Bromwich
RW 346
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
39MU 28-06-1945 102RFS 13-04-1951 29MU 15-10-1951 nes 14-12-1954 sold scrap H.Bath 16-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW347
s/n RW347
Castle Bromwich
RW 347
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 29-06-1945 RHAF 25-04-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW348
s/n RW348
Castle Bromwich
RW 348
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
Cunliffe-Owen mods 10-07-1945 EAAS Manby 28-07-1945 501S 'RAB-J' 15-04-1947 Engine cut due to fuel mishandling bellylanded Glos CB 06-07-1947 recat E SOC 25-07-1947
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW349
s/n RW349
Castle Bromwich
RW 349
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
39MU 03-06-1945 103FRS 17-05-1951 BUC C4R 20-08-1951 recat 5 to 6889M 07-09-1952
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW350
s/n RW350
Castle Bromwich
RW 350
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 02-07-1945 Maclarens HAL 01-03-1946 65S 'YT-Q' 26-03-1946 SOC 05-02-1947
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW351
s/n RW351
Castle Bromwich
RW 351
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
VAHP 12-07-1945 6MU 27-07-1945 631S 28-11-1947 C4R(S) 25-04-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW352
s/n RW352
Castle Bromwich
RW 352
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 30-07-1945 605S 05-05-1948 FAAC 20-06-1948 ros 63GCF 10-05-1949 AGT Gatwick refurb 19-01-1951 1OFU Abingdon 30-10-1952 MedAF 28-11-1952 187S 25-08-1953 3CAACU 14-10-1953 nes 16-08-1956 sold scrap Enfield Rolling Mills 05-04-1957
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW353
s/n RW353
Castle Bromwich
RW 353
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
39MU 30-06-1945 RHAF 14-05-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW354
s/n RW354
Castle Bromwich
RW 354
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
49MU 25-07-1945 HAL 21-03-1946 65S 10-05-1946 RHAF 13-01-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW355
s/n RW355
Castle Bromwich
RW 355
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 14-08-1945 614S 06-02-1947 air collision with TE314 crashed Long Sutton Somerset pilot killed dbf CE 07-12-1947 SOC 08-01-1948
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW356
s/n RW356
Castle Bromwich
RW 356
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 12-07-1945 667S 02-08-1945 61OTU 27-12-1945 Swung on landing and u/c collapsed Chivenor FAAC 20-07-1948 ros recat E 16-11-1948
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW357
s/n RW357
Castle Bromwich
RW 357
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 02-07-1945 65S 'YT-F' 15-03-1946 Westland mods 02-03-1949 scrap 20-02-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW358
s/n RW358
Castle Bromwich
RW 358
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
MU 02-07-1945 604S 08-02-1946 ? FAAC 12-12-1949 ros CGS 17-12-1950 3CAACU 16-11-1953 nes 13-12-1954 sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW359
s/n RW359
Castle Bromwich
RW 359
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 02-08-1945 604S 06-02-1947 609S 'PR-G' 27-10-1949 FAC3R 13-07-1950 ros to 6835M 19-02-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW373
s/n RW373
Castle Bromwich
RW 373
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 02-07-1945 FATU 22-09-1945 6OTU 15-03-1946 FAAC 01-07-1946 ros 61OTU 02-06-1947 20S 25-02-1949 nes 19-05-1953 C5(C) 29-07-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW374
s/n RW374
Castle Bromwich
RW 374
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 29-06-1945 [761S Henstridge 12-1945 ] 604S 15-04-1947 Hit by TE439 while waiting to turn on to runway Thorney Island FAAC 01-06-1948 ros recat E 02-07-1948
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW375
s/n RW375
Castle Bromwich
RW 375
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 20-07-1945 RNAS Lee on Solent 31-01-1946 BUT 761S Henstridge teardrop hood came off on takeoff 28-07-1945 (Lt PN Charlton)
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW376
s/n RW376
Castle Bromwich
RW 376
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
MU 30-06-1945 601S 'HT-C' 15-04-1947 nes 21-10-1953 sold scrap R.J.Coley 03-03-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW377
s/n RW377
Castle Bromwich
RW 377
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 18-07-1945 631S 09-08-1945 FAAC 29-09-1947 ros to 6555M 10-05-1948 [611S] Woodvale 30-12-1949 scrap 19-01-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW378
s/n RW378
Castle Bromwich
RW 378
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 20-07-1945 614S 08-02-1947 609S 'PR-B' 'RAP-B' 08-10-1948 St.Athan SG1 to 6821M 29-01-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW379
s/n RW379
Castle Bromwich
RW 379
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
39MU 30-06-1945 RHAF 08-04-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW380
s/n RW380
Castle Bromwich
RW 380
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 21-03-1946 RHAF 29-06-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW381
s/n RW381
Castle Bromwich
RW 381
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 20-07-1945 151RU Reserve Pool 03-10-1946 GAAC 16-01-1947 616S 31-05-1948 609S 30-08-1948 AGT Gatwick refurb 10-02-1951 5CAACU 23-11-1953 nes 13-12-1954 sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW382
s/n RW382
c/n CBAF IX.4640
Castle Bromwich
RW 382
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 20-07-1945 604S 'NG-C' 01-04-1947 3CAACU 12-06-1951 to 7245M at 609S 28-11-1955 repainted at RW729 BoB film extant 8075M RAF Uxbridge
last update: 2025-February-05
Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW383
s/n RW383
Castle Bromwich
RW 383
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 21-07-1945 601S 22-03-1948 air collision with SL725 over Woking force-landing Shackleford CE 15-06-1949 scrap 11-07-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW384
s/n RW384
Castle Bromwich
RW 384
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 03-08-1945 126S 07-03-1946 19S 21-03-1946 41S 05-12-1946 691S 24-07-1947 TAAC 17-02-1949 ros 17S 13-07-1949 3CAACU 15-03-1951 Engine cut on take-off u/c raised to stop Exeter FAC5(C) 09-05-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW385
s/n RW385
Castle Bromwich
RW 385
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 13-07-1945 631S 11-08-1945 air collision with SL614 Llanbedr CE 16-02-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW386
s/n RW386
c/n CBAF IX.4644
Castle Bromwich
RW 386
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 02-08-1945 604S 'NG-D' 25-03-1947 mods 10-04-1949 604S to 6944M RAF Tech College 24-08-1949 as 'RAK-A' to G-BXVI to SE-BIR 31-08-07
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW387
s/n RW387
Castle Bromwich
RW 387
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 31-07-1945 203AFS 03-11-1947 CAC 403GDA 11-08-1948 ros 5S 18-09-1950 612S 01-04-1951 102FRS 26-04-1951 nes 03-04-1953 sold scrap J.G.Williamson 23-10-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW388
s/n RW388
c/n CBAF IX.4646
Castle Bromwich
RW 388
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 18-07-1945 667S 02-08-1945 FA 30-11-1945 612S 30-04-1951 FAC3R 03-01-1952 offer to museum New Zealand to 6946M 30-09-1952 Cv V 'AB917 The Inspirer' for BoB film 10-04-1968 Cv back to RW388 06-10-1969 Extant Stoke-on-Trent
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW389
s/n RW389
c/n CBAF IX.4647
Castle Bromwich
RW 389
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 20-08-1945 20S 18-07-1950 5CAACU 25-09-1951 nes 14-12-1954 sold scrap Eyre Smelting 13-06-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW390
s/n RW390
Castle Bromwich
RW 390
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 28-08-1945 61OTU 14-01-1946 Hit by TE182 on peritrack Chivenor FAAC 15-12-1948 ros recat E 23-03-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW391
s/n RW391
Castle Bromwich
RW 391
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 30-07-1945 501S 'RAB-E' 18-12-1946 Swung on landing and tipped up Filton FAAC 07-03-1948 ros to 6552M 10-05-1948 ESWng Digby
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW392
s/n RW392
Castle Bromwich
RW 392
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
Cunliffe-Owen mods 19-07-1945 6MU 23-08-1945 CGS 21-02-1946 eng fail on takeoff Leconfield C3 03-12-1949 ros recat scrap 13-01-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW393
s/n RW393
c/n CBAF IX.4651
Castle Bromwich
RW 393
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
MU 30-07-1945 ? 602S personal aircraft Air Marshall Sir Williams Elliot Ran off runway on landing and tipped up Hendon 22-03-1951 to 7293M 3CAACU painted white extant RAF Turnhouse
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW394
s/n RW394
Castle Bromwich
RW 394
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 25-07-1945 601S 'HT-A' 'RAH-W' 09-01-1947 3CAACU 19-06-1947 CRS Middle Wallop 17-10-1952 FAC3R 19-04-1953 ros FCCRS 25-06-1953 nes 13-12-1954 to 7280M at 614S 10-10-1955
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVI serial RW395
s/n RW395
Castle Bromwich
RW 395
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 18-07-1945 8OTU 17-12-1946 Bounced on landing and overturned Leuchars CE 13-09-1948 SOC
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire LF Mk XVIe serial RW396
s/n RW396
Castle Bromwich
RW 396
Merlin 266
Known Units:
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
29MU 24-07-1945 CGS 02-04-1946 eng fail crashed force-landing West Skipsea Ranges 06-01-1949
last update: 2025-February-05