Spitfire (Total: 20,815, Canadian: 54, Group 54)
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 VN301, F Mk 22
s/n VN301
VA (Supermarine)
VN 301
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 14-03-194633MU 03-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-1946Cv F24 80S 'W2-A' 15-01-1948nea 13-02-1954sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN302, F Mk 24
s/n VN302
VA (Supermarine)
VN 302
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun SM 14-03-1946Middle Wallop 19-09-1946CRD VA 30-11-1946VAHPA 22-01-1947hand tests with various external stores AAEE 03-01-1947CFE 20-04-1948SOC 24-05-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN303, F Mk 24
s/n VN303
VA (Supermarine)
VN 303
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 10-07-194680S BAFO 23-02-1948FAAC 20-07-1948VA nes 13-12-1954sold scrap R.J.Coley 17-02-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN304, F Mk 24
s/n VN304
VA (Supermarine)
VN 304
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 20-03-194633MU 30-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-194680S BAFO 18-02-1948VA 15-10-1948FEAF 02-07-1949Kai Tak 20-09-1950SOC 04-10-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN305, F Mk 24
s/n VN305
VA (Supermarine)
VN 305
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 12-07-194680S Wunstorf 29-09-1948FEAF 02-07-194980S eng fail abandoned into sea off Hong Kong pilot killed C3 28-12-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN306, F Mk 24
s/n VN306
VA (Supermarine)
VN 306
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
VAHPA 17-04-1946VA KEE 28-09-1946mods and Cv 80S 16-08-1948flew into ground 5m NW Gutersloh pilot killed CE 07-03-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN307, F Mk 24
s/n VN307
VA (Supermarine)
VN 307
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 26-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-194680S BAFO 23-02-1948FEAF 02-07-1949FAC3R 24-01-1951SOC scrap 05-07-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN308, F Mk 24
s/n VN308
VA (Supermarine)
VN 308
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 30-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-194680S 'W2-L' 15-01-1948FEAF 02-07-1949Kai Tak 13-12-1949HKAAF 15-05-1952FAC3R 15-06-1952SOC 11-12-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN309, F Mk 24
s/n VN309
VA (Supermarine)
VN 309
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 30-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-19461BRSD BAFO 20-01-194980S 'W2-D' 17-01-1950? FEAF 02-07-1950? SOC 22-08-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN310, F Mk 24
s/n VN310
VA (Supermarine)
VN 310
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 26-07-194680S 15-01-1948FEAF 15-08-1949Control lost in cloud crashed in sea off Hong Kong 12-01-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN311, F Mk 24
s/n VN311
VA (Supermarine)
VN 311
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 26-07-194680S 'W2-C' 15-01-1948nea 13-12-1954sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN312, F Mk 24
s/n VN312
VA (Supermarine)
VN 312
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 26-07-194680S BAFO 09-02-1948FEAF 15-08-1949Blown into Harvard KF369 by gust while taxying at Kai Tak FAC3R 09-06-1950SOC 07-07-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN313, F Mk 24
s/n VN313
VA (Supermarine)
VN 313
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 28-02-194633MU 14-08-1946Reserve Pool BAFO 02-05-194980S 10-06-1949FEAF 02-07-1949FAC4 13-12-1949Kai Tak 13-12-1949HKAAF 15-03-1952SOC 03-10-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN314, F Mk 22
s/n VN314
VA (Supermarine)
VN 314
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 20-03-1946Aldermanston 33MU 30-04-1946VAHPk 06-05-1946Cv F24 80S 'W2-W' BAFO 28-03-1949FEAF 15-08-1949SOC 12-02-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN315, F Mk 22
s/n VN315
VA (Supermarine)
VN 315
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
AAEE 09-07-1946Hand Sqdn Hullavington 11-06-194780S 06-02-1948VASM 12-10-1948Cv F24 80S 06-02-1949nea 14-12-1954GBEE fitment 10-11-1955Thum Flt Woodvale 24-01-1956nea 25-05-1956sold scrap H.Bath 30-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN316, F Mk 22
s/n VN316
VA (Supermarine)
VN 316
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun Aldermanston 02-04-1946Cv F24 27-04-1946ECFS 03-05-1946FAAC 07-06-1946VA Westland 21-01-1949mods 2GCF 20-08-1951FAC3R 11-07-1952nea 13-12-1954sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN317, F Mk 24
s/n VN317
VA (Supermarine)
VN 317
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
ECFS 18-07-19461BRSD 01-01-194980S 'W2-P' 12-01-1949wheels up landing Renfrew CE 02-07-1949scrap 22-07-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN318, F Mk 24
s/n VN318
VA (Supermarine)
VN 318
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
RAE 07-1946CRD VAHPA 30-11-194680S 'W2-F' 23-02-1948HKAAF 01-04-1952wheels up landing 21-04-1955
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN319, F Mk 24
s/n VN319
VA (Supermarine)
VN 319
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 04-07-194680S 18-02-1948air collision with VN323 crashed Hombrink Lezze BZG Germany pilot killed CE 28-10-1948
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN320, F Mk 24
s/n VN320
VA (Supermarine)
VN 320
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 29-07-194680S 'W2-E' BAFO 01-03-1948nea 14-02-1954sold scrap Eyre Smelting 13-06-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN321, F Mk 24
s/n VN321
VA (Supermarine)
VN 321
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 22-07-194633MU 29-07-1946install 22-12-1949nea 13-12-1954sold scrap R.J.Coley 17-02-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN322, F Mk 24
s/n VN322
VA (Supermarine)
VN 322
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 23-07-194633MU 29-07-194680S BAFO 18-02-1948scrap 08-09-1949nea 16-06-1953sold MoS 19-02-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN323, F Mk 24
s/n VN323
VA (Supermarine)
VN 323
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 23-07-194633MU 29-07-194680S 09-02-1948air collision with VN319 crash-landed Hombrink Lezze Germany CE 28-10-1948
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN324, F Mk 24
s/n VN324
VA (Supermarine)
VN 324
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 13-07-1946VA CRD 30-11-1946VAHPA 16-06-1947GGS vibration tests AAEE 31-12-1947full gunnery acceptance trials (MkV can) VA stored until 1950 RAE 12-10-1950on loan VA for Lympne air races nea 14-12-1954sold scrap Enfield Rolling Mills 25-06-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN325, F Mk 24
s/n VN325
VA (Supermarine)
VN 325
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 26-07-194633MU 29-07-1946Westland 12-03-1949mods nea 14-12-1954sold scrap H.Bath 31-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN326, F Mk 24
s/n VN326
VA (Supermarine)
VN 326
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
33MU 11-11-1946Westland 20-01-1949mods FEAF 02-09-1950MBFE storage 08-12-1950390MU SOC 18-02-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN327, F Mk 24
s/n VN327
VA (Supermarine)
VN 327
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 06-09-194633MU 21-09-1946Westland 19-01-1949nea 11-05-1956sold scrap H.Bath 31-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN328, F Mk 24
s/n VN328
VA (Supermarine)
VN 328
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 09-09-194633MU 21-09-1946Westland 11-03-1949nes 14-12-1954sold scrap H.Bath 31-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN329, F Mk 24
s/n VN329
VA (Supermarine)
VN 329
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 30-09-1946VAHPA 11-10-1946AAEE 28-10-1946full gunnery acceptance trials with MkV can. comparison trials with PK547 the latter acting as chase plane. VA EA 01-10-1947Westland 06-04-1949mods nea 14-12-1954sold scrap H.Bath 17-02-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN330, F Mk 24
s/n VN330
VA (Supermarine)
VN 330
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry SM 10min 09-10-194633MU 04-11-1946Westland 06-01-1949mods FEAF 15-11-1950390MU 28-02-1953SOC 18-02-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN331, F Mk 24
s/n VN331
VA (Supermarine)
VN 331
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry 10min SM 19-03-1947VAHPA 19-03-19479MU 11-06-1947RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1947Seletar 12-08-1949SHQ Kai Tak 03-10-195080S 01-08-1951SOC 01-07-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN332, F Mk 24
s/n VN332
VA (Supermarine)
VN 332
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown W R Morgan 15min SM 25-03-194747MU 28-05-1947Task 322 London Beaverlake to Canada RCAF Winter Estab Edmonton Alberta 24-08-1947cocooning and winterisation trials recocooned 08-1948dismantled 09-1949sold in Canada 21-03-1951reregistered as N7929A
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN333, F Mk 24
s/n VN333
VA (Supermarine)
VN 333
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 16-01-1947VASM mods 6MU 09-03-1947for completion of mods 33MU 10-10-1951nea 13-12-1954sold scrap Lawsons Metals 15-05-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN334, F Mk 24
s/n VN334
VA (Supermarine)
VN 334
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
6MU 16-01-1947VASM mods to 6MU 09-03-1949for completion of mods 45MU 19-10-1951FEAF 29-10-1951nea 14-12-1954sold scrap H.Bath 31-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN477, F Mk 24
s/n VN477
VA (Supermarine)
VN 477
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry 15min SM 12-05-19476MU 07-08-1947VASM 10-03-1949mods 45MU 19-10-1951FEAF 03-11-1952nea 14-12-1954fitment 12-07-1955sold Aluminium Refineries 19-06-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN478, F Mk 24
s/n VN478
VA (Supermarine)
VN 478
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry 30min SM 23-06-19476MU 07-08-1947VASM 09-03-1949mods 45MU 17-10-1951FEAF 26-11-1952nea 11-05-1956sold scrap 31-10-1956
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN479, F Mk 24
s/n VN479
VA (Supermarine)
VN 479
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
VASM 06-04-19486MU 30-05-1948FEAF 08-08-1948MBFE storage 16-08-1948SOC 18-02-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN480, F Mk 24
s/n VN480
VA (Supermarine)
VN 480
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 28-08-1947RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1949Seletar 12-08-194980S 27-12-1949SOC 10-12-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN481, F Mk 24
s/n VN481
VA (Supermarine)
VN 481
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
VAHPA 15-08-1947invest of longitud behaviour 9MU 03-09-1948RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1949? Seletar 12-08-1949SHQ Kai Tak 14-08-195080S 05-09-1950SOC 01-09-1952
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN482, F Mk 24
s/n VN482
VA (Supermarine)
VN 482
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 03-10-1947RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1949Seletar 29-06-1949SOC 15-01-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN483, F Mk 24
s/n VN483
VA (Supermarine)
VN 483
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 15min SM 23-07-19476MU 07-08-1947VASM 03-03-1948mods FEAF 27-03-1950SHQ Kai Tak 24-05-195080S 26-07-1950390MU 01-03-1952SOC 01-07-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN484, F Mk 24
s/n VN484
VA (Supermarine)
VN 484
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 20min SM 19-06-19476MU 07-08-1947VASM 28-02-1949mods FEAF 27-03-1950MBFE Kai Tak 14-08-195080S 'W2-H' 27-10-1950390MU 01-03-1952SOC 01-07-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN485, F Mk 24
s/n VN485
c/n SMAF 21567
VA (Supermarine)
VN 485
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry 25min SM 27-08-19479MU 04-09-1947RNAS Renfrew 09-1949Seletar SHQ Kai Tak 03-10-195080S 05-09-1951Hong Kong AAF 13-05-1952last flt 15-01-1955FH241.40 to 7326M extant Kai Tak 10-04-1956
last update: 2025-February-05
Spitfire VN486, F Mk 24
s/n VN486
VA (Supermarine)
VN 486
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 10min SM 15-07-19476MU 07-08-1947VASM 03-03-1949mods FEAF 27-03-195080S Kai Tak 24-05-1950390MU 01-03-1952SOC 10-02-1953
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN487, F Mk 24
s/n VN487
VA (Supermarine)
VN 487
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 10min 02-09-19479MU 11-09-1947RNAS Renfrew 11-09-1947Seletar 12-08-1948? MBFE stalled on approach crashed Seletar C2 07-12-1949SOC scrap 07-12-1949
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN488, F Mk 24
s/n VN488
VA (Supermarine)
VN 488
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown S/Ldr Derry 10min SM 19-09-19476MU 10-10-1947VASM 28-06-1949mods 80S 15-08-1949FAAC 29-03-1950Kai Tak 29-08-1950SOC 28-08-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN489, F Mk 24
s/n VN489
VA (Supermarine)
VN 489
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 10min SM 02-10-19476MU 27-10-1947VASM 09-03-1949RNAS Renfrew 28-06-1949Seletar 12-08-194980S FEAF 27-12-1949SOC 10-12-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN490, F Mk 24
s/n VN490
VA (Supermarine)
VN 490
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown W R Morgan 15min SM 14-11-19476MU 15-12-1947VASM 17-03-1949mods RNAS Renfrew 28-06-1949Seletar 12-08-1949SOC 27-11-1952
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN491, F Mk 24
s/n VN491
VA (Supermarine)
VN 491
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun SM 20min 16-10-19476MU 27-10-1947VASM 10-03-1949mods RNAS Renfrew 28-06-1949Seletar 12-08-194980S FEAF 27-12-1949Hit sea recovering from spin 2m S of Ninepin Is. Hong Kong 26-07-1950
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN492, F Mk 24
s/n VN492
VA (Supermarine)
VN 492
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown W R Morgan 40min SM 15-12-19479MU 23-12-1947Chilbolton on short term loan CSA charge 15-01-1948RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1949Seletar 12-08-1949SHQ Kai Tak 03-10-195080S 01-02-1951HKAAF 'N' 15-05-1952Swung on landing and tipped up Sek Kong 03-10-1953SOC 19-07-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN493, F Mk 24
s/n VN493
VA (Supermarine)
VN 493
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown L R Colquhoun 10min SM 24-11-19476MU 11-12-1947RNAS Renfrew 30-06-1948VASM 04-04-1949mods 80S FEAF 15-08-1949SOC 28-08-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN494, F Mk 24
s/n VN494
VA (Supermarine)
VN 494
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
test flown W R Morgan 10min SM 19-12-19479MU 14-01-1948FEAF 22-10-1950MBFE storage 26-10-1950Singapore AF 23-07-1951SOC 18-02-1954
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN495, F Mk 24
s/n VN495
VA (Supermarine)
VN 495
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
9MU 21-01-1948RNAS Renfrew 29-06-1949Seletar 12-08-194980S 05-09-1949FAC4 13-12-1949Kai Tak SOC 28-08-1951
last update: 2025-February-05Spitfire VN496, F Mk 24
s/n VN496
VA (Supermarine)
VN 496
Griffon 61
airhistory.org.uk/spitfire
FF 24-02-1948final Spit variant to leave SM prod line del to 6MU AAEE by W R Morgan 04-04-1949RNAS Renfrew 30-06-194980S FEAF 15-08-1949C5 SOC 15-12-1950
last update: 2025-February-05