Spitfire (Total: 20,815, Canadian: 25, Group 25)

Supermarine Spitfire

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (DND Photo)
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 Wikipedia Supermarine Spitfire

unvetted Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page

YouTube YouTube How the Spitfire Became an Aviation Masterpiece

Kestrel Publications RCAF Supermarine Spitfire Serials - Kestrel Publications

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX974

s/n TX974

VA (Supermarine)

TX 974

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 23-08-1945 47MU 22-09-1945 Ocean Verity 07-11-1945 India 02-12-1945 ACSEA 27-12-1945 9RIAF explosion on start engine Peshawar CE dbf 16-08-1946

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX975

s/n TX975

VA (Supermarine)

TX 975

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

39MU 13-08-1945 76MU 20-09-1945 Ocean Viceroy 24-09-1945 India 30-10-1945 ACSEA 29-11-1945 4RIAF Japan SOC 24-03-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX976

s/n TX976

VA (Supermarine)

TX 976

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

(Interim) Super prod proto 05-09-1944 33MU 11-08-1945 82MU 05-09-1945 Ocean Gallant 17-09-1945 India 14-10-1945 ACSEA 09-11-1945 1FTS stalled on landing and crashed Ambala CE 04-05-1946 SOC 31-10-1946

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX977

s/n TX977

VA (Supermarine)

TX 977

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

6MU 30-08-1945 47MU 18-09-1945 Ocean Viceroy 24-09-1945 India 30-10-1945 ACSEA 29-11-1945 4RIAF Japan SOC 24-03-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX978

s/n TX978

VA (Supermarine)

TX 978

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

33MU 05-08-1945 76MU 16-09-1945 Fort Michipicoten 22-09-1945 India 18-10-1945 ACSEA 29-11-1945 7RIAF Crashed in emergency landing Kohat 24-07-1946

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX979

s/n TX979

VA (Supermarine)

TX 979

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

33MU 05-09-1945 76MU 17-09-1945 Fort Michipicoten 22-09-1945 India 18-10-1945 ACSEA 08-11-1945 4RIAF Japan Flew into high ground in cloud Okayama CE 11-06-1947 SOC 31-07-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX980

s/n TX980

VA (Supermarine)

TX 980

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

CRD R-RH 06-09-1945 G65 removed after perf trials G105 install with 03-speed supercharger for comparison trials 52MU 20-10-1948 CE 25-10-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX981

s/n TX981

VA (Supermarine)

TX 981

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

33MU 11-09-1945 76MU 26-09-1945 Clan MacBrayne 29-11-1945 returned 76MU for re-erection 615S 05-07-1948 612S crash-landed Dyce CE 19-12-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX982

s/n TX982

VA (Supermarine)

TX 982

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

33MU 12-09-1945 76MU 03-10-1945 Clan MacBrayne 22-11-1945 returned 76MU for re-erection 6MU wheels up landing Brize Norton CB 30-12-1948 sold scrap Eyre Smelting

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX983

s/n TX983

VA (Supermarine)

TX 983

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

33MU 05-10-1945 613S 'RAT-W' 02-12-1946 RCMSU 14-04-1948 sold VA 15-08-1952

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX984

s/n TX984

VA (Supermarine)

TX 984

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 09-10-1945 226OCU 20-01-1950 FAC3R 13-02-1950 ros nea 31-03-1953 sold MoS 14-12-1953

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX985

s/n TX985

VA (Supermarine)

TX 985

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

6MU 26-11-1945 602S 'RAI-B' 26-11-1946 RCCU 14-04-1948 607S 21-11-1948 CAC surplus 03-03-1949 sold scrap R.J.Coley 03-02-1950

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX986

s/n TX986

VA (Supermarine)

TX 986

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

6MU 27-04-1945 222MU 01-06-1945 1PATP City of Chester 07-06-1945 India 25-06-1945 ACSEA 12-07-1945 4RIAF Japan SOC 24-03-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX987

s/n TX987

VA (Supermarine)

TX 987

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 03-05-1945 222MU 08-06-1945 Empire Gambia 05-08-1945 India 30-08-1945 ACSEA 13-09-1945 SOC 25-09-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX988

s/n TX988

VA (Supermarine)

TX 988

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 30-04-1945 222MU 01-06-1945 Empire Kumasi 19-07-1945 India 14-08-1945 ACSEA 23-08-1945 9RIAF Engine cut bellylanded 20m SSW of Bhopal 19-02-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX989

s/n TX989

VA (Supermarine)

TX 989

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 02-05-1945 451S 03-09-1945 to BAF as SG-88 08-02-1949

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX990

s/n TX990

VA (Supermarine)

TX 990

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 30-04-1945 222MU 13-06-1945 City of Hong Kong 26-08-1945 India 17-09-1945 ACSEA 27-09-1945 RIAF 29-12-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX991

s/n TX991

VA (Supermarine)

TX 991

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

(Interim) Super prod proto 05-09-1944 for hood wind gear 06-03-1945 1PP Benson 28-04-1945 82MU 07-09-1945 Fort Michipicoten 23-09-1945 India 18-10-1945 ACSEA 29-11-1945 new rear view hood 59SP 30-12-1945 9RIAF 8RIAF Engine cut crashlanded 30m NW of Secunderabad CE 15-03-1947 SOC 24-04-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX992

s/n TX992

VA (Supermarine)

TX 992

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 30-04-1945 26S 14-06-1945 613S 'RAT-L' 14-04-1948 nea 01-08-1950 sold VA 14-11-1950 to BAF 15-11-1950

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX993

s/n TX993

VA (Supermarine)

TX 993

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 02-05-1945 26S 12-06-1945 411S 02-03-1946 sold VA 10-05-1950

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX994

s/n TX994

VA (Supermarine)

TX 994

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 03-05-1945 222MU 10-06-1945 Empire Gambia 06-08-1945 India 30-08-1945 ACSEA 13-09-1945 SOC 28-08-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX995

s/n TX995

VA (Supermarine)

TX 995

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

29MU 12-05-1945 453S 06-09-1945 to BAF as SG-1949 10-07-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX996

s/n TX996

VA (Supermarine)

TX 996

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

39MU 29-04-1945 47MU 25-09-1945 Samconstant 03-12-1945 India 03-01-1946 ACSEA 31-01-1946 390MU SOC 13-01-1948

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX997

s/n TX997

VA (Supermarine)

TX 997

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

6MU 03-05-1945 222MU 30-05-1945 Empire Kumasi 19-07-1945 India 14-08-1945 ACSEA 13-09-1945 SOC 24-04-1947

last update: 2025-February-05

Spitfire FR Mk XIV serial TX998

s/n TX998

VA (Supermarine)

TX 998

Griffon 65

Known Units:

airhistory.org.uk/spitfire

9MU 02-05-1945 26S 14-06-1945 602S 29-07-1947 29MU surplus 10-03-1949 nea 31-03-1953 SOC 22-09-1953

last update: 2025-February-05