• FII.lUVE. NO • • Squ..t.on. till .. , •• ' ''dio" AI, Foree. B ••• mo •• III".,,, wl.h "o"d •• 11 SEliC ' .... IOd .... pol. bl ... / " .. k bluo.

, f ,ll. No. _'CI,y ollo"d .. " ' Squad, .. " , II OYO' Ausm.", A'. F .. ,oa.

, F.n. NO.1 huo",,,,,, ~ov.1 Ahod ...... AI. F ... e.. 8 . ...... t., fin"" . .... , .. " , •• ,1>, ... '0,,"<1. , •.

• PII.)II ~ . 01 F,II Wing, 5k ...... Nykoplng, AoV" Swodl." Ait F .. , eo. 0 ••• 11. 0 1 F.11 ' n.""I. will boo l ouM! .... ,100 Unit InoIVn" pi,," In " IACAM NO. 3.

s .. n,. IF .III 0 1 ,100 h i." "if Co.PO. 0 ••• 011 g,_~i.h ·V.llow. ' ''H'.VO '"olgn;. g ... ",,, •• k yollow On whl .. oquor., lin II .. " ond wl"tI .,dp .. V ••• n / wh'U/ U.k \"1"0 ...

---~'EF

AIRCAM AVIATI ON SERIES No. 8

Illustrated by Richard Ward

Compiled by Ted Hooton and Richard Ward

Text by Ted Hooton

-24 -47

ACI(NOWLEOGMENTS

Grateful thanks ale extended 10 all who assisted with photographs and information making possible Ihe pUblication of this plclorial survey of the Griffon engined SpilfirB and brief coverage of the Merlin and Griffon engined Seaflre. Thanks to alilhose who assisted whose names are li sted below In alphabetical order

l. Bachelor, F. Sa/atelli, Canadien Dept. National Defence, EtabHsse · mel'll CinematographiquB des Armees. Flight In ternational. F. G. Freeman Jr.. M, Garbett, J. Harvey. H. Holmes, T. HOOlon. Irish An Corps. Imperial War Museum. R. C. Jones JPMS. SwedISh Air Force, G. J . Thomas.

F. IUV. No. 132. 'Clty of Bombav' Squadron. SEAC. Ma'aya, 1945. S tandard Green /G.ev acheme but wi t hout white wing band • •

Published by: Osprey Publications Limited, England

Editorial Office: P.O. Box 5. Canterbury. Kent. England

SubSCription & Business Office: P.O. Box 25. 707 Oxford Road. Reading, Berk.shire, England

First PUblished 1969 Not IOf Hie In U.SA Second Impression 1971 SBN 8~45 008 X

ood cle~' $hOI $hew'ng Ihe changed neSe Ionel of ltl. !"Il G"Uon cng,ned va".nl. lhe Mk.XII (IWM)

GRIFFON-SPITFIRES Mk.XII. XIV. and XVIII to 24

In 1939 the Suprrmarine design team under J. Smith began ..... ork on the: Spitfi re Mk. IV around the projected RoU$-RO~'ce Type 37 ~ngine, later known as the Griffon. The early war years delayed both airframe and engine, but in 194 1 t ..... o protol~'pes ..... ere ordered, and by 1942, when they took 10 the air, they had been re-designated as the Spitfire Mk. XX(DPS45) and Mk. XXJ{DPS51).

From these beginnings, and through subsequent de\'el­opme:nt of the Mk. VIII airframe, came a \'lIriety of Griffon-Spitfi res. The Mk. 21-24 series "'liS almosl a new type of ain;:raft, having a completely new wing designj the Mk. X II , XIV, and XIX being interim de\'elopmentsj while the Mk. XVIII was a later version of the XIV with different wing conSlruction.

Large-~o.le production began in 1944 and JUS t over two thousand were built up to 1948 (nearh' hall were Mk. X IV·s). They wcre never emplO)'ed in combat [0 the extent of the Merlin-Spitfires but, nevertheless, saw service with si~ ty squadrons of the RA.F. and R Aux.A.F. between 1943 and 1954. Peak operational ~trength was in 1945 when some twenty squadrons were ,equipped. T hey were: also used by the ai r forces of ten foreign countries, and nOI until 1957 did the bst Griffon-Spitfire retire from useful flying duties.

Compared with thdr hlcrlin counterparts they were quite a different aircraft in many ways, partially due 10 the: opposite engine rotation of the Griffon and aero­d~'namic design changes. BUI, although the)" lost the " sweetness" of the original Spitfires, they st ill remained a favourite with their pilots.

Wart ime Service 1943 to 1945

This period saw the operational use of the Spitfire Mk. XII, XIV, XIX, and 21.

The Mk. XII was a 1942 .. panic" conversion of the basic Mk. VII I/IX airframe with a lo ..... -altitude rated Grillon and clipped wings, and was based on experience derived from the Spitfire Mk. XX prototype. It "'liS

. ordered to counter the menace of the Luftwaffe's Fwl90 .. tip· and-run " raids on the south coaSt of England and, built in small numbers. first entered sen'ice with 41

squadron in January 1943, followed b}' 9 1 squadron in April. Low-altitude patrols and, later, o!fensi\'e sweeps were the speciality of the tWO squadrons, but during 1943 de\'e!opment of the Mk. XIV proceeded apace. This \'3.riant \\'3.S intended for all·ahitude fighting, being fimd with a two-stage supercharged Griffon. Initially produced with the .. C" wing, it firSI went into ~ervice with 350 (Belgian) and 610 squadrons in January 1944, followed by 91 and 322 a few months later.

Intended for the ddence of the D-day beachheads, the Spitfire XI V was diverted from that role to join the Tempest and MUSlang in defending London against the German VI fl ying bomb offensl\'e which began in mid­June. Thus it was that 91, .322, and 610, together with 41 squadron (Mk. XII), shot down more than three hun­drt'<l of the 429 VI's claimed by Spitfires, No. 9 1 squadron was the most successful , while Lt. Burgwal of 322 (Dutch) squadron was Ihe highest-scoring Spitfire pilot with 21 claims.

In September, with the VI menace subsiding, 130 squadron, newly·equipped wi lh the F.X IVE, wem to the 2nd Tactical Air Force on the Continent, and in De1:em­ber was joined by 350 and 610 to form No. 125 \'{'ing. In the following (I,larch, 41 squadron replaced 6 10, and the Wing was kept bus~' on both fighler and groun..i­attack operations unlil Ihe end of the \\':11 in Europe in May, 1945. During thh tim(' 3 numbe r of Ar234 and ,\011'262 jets were shot down.

Meanwhile, lhe Spitfire FRXIVE and PR.XIX had entered service for reconnaissance duties. The PRXIX was rwhed into proouct ion with an order for twcOly­two aircraft (RM626-647), these being unarmed Mil: . XIV's with extra fucl in the wings and fuselage-mounted cameras. They entered service with 541/542 squadrons in England around the time of D-day, and some reached 682 squadron in Italy in the bte autumn.

The Spitfire FRXIVE was a popular aircrah with 20mm. cannon and .s in. machine-gun~. .. tea r-drop" canopy, dipp..-d wings, and oblique camera. It came into service with 2nd T .A.F. in the earl)' aUlumn of 1944 replacing the. Mustang 1'5 of 2, 26t1, and 430 !iquadron$ .

Finally in early 1945, I and 91 squadrons in England

Fo.m.IIOf'1 01 Mk. XI!"S by No. 41 SQllad.on .• n Ihe IIPP" PtlOIOlI'.ph 1M !a'lIe. Sj>Inn", IS ""'" Oil"'O\II. H ., MB794. 0 M88!>8. (pholos IWM).

Tne h rl l Sp,tf". Mk. XII. EN22 1. l he IIIImgl we,e nOl clopped on rllli . " cf.ll so lnl l compa'at,ve tesu could be ,un I111l1n EN222 IIIIn'c h did n.v. clopped lIII,ng l . Both .IIc 'alt lIIIe'. IIOlllln bV FlU!. 'S pud' Po tock, altha InltnJlve FI",ng Develo pmenl Uni t. BOlcombe DOlllln. Decem ber 1942.

rc-equipped wllh the new Spitfire F.21, but only a few bomber escon sonies were flown before the end of hostilities.

As the War in Europe ended, many F/FR.XIVE air­croft were scm to the Far EaSt, and in Burma 20, 132, and 273 squadrOn! were amongst the firs t units 10 re­equip, carly in 1945. With me ]apam.·$C Army Air Force already reduced to 9n ineffecth'e 1evc:J, ground attack sorties were the order of the day, except for 681 squadron which received a few PRXIX (la ter production models with a pressuriscd cockpi t) as the War end~'(f in August.

Post war 1946 to 1954

In Europe, the regular R.A.F. squadrons with Griffon_ Spitfires were soon disbanded or re-equipped with other types. NOlable exceptions were 1 squadron in Germany which .oper:lIcd both the FR.14Ee and PR.19 unlil 1951, as did 541 squadron wilh the PRI9 in England, both upits performing manr useful photo surveys during that lime.

However, Ihe R.Aux.A.F. employed the Griffon­Spitfire in some numbers between 1946 and 1951. A few squadrons having the FR.14E as ini tial equipment recciv~'<I F.lI 's in 1947, but in 1948-49 the F.12 (basically a F.21 with" tear-drop" canopy and rc:vi$Cd fin/rudder) became the mOst widely used fighter. No. 603, 607, 611 , nnd 613 squadrons still had F.22's during the 1951 rese rve call-up.

Meanwhile, in 1947 t:-te Spitfire Mk.1I1 entered $«Vice in overseas units, In Palestine, me FR.18 equipped 32 and 108 squadrons and both units were invol\'ed in combat with Egyptian and israeli Spitfire 9's. In the Far eo'St , the F.l8 and FR.18 replaced the Mk.14E, many of the laller being tr.msferrcd to the Royal Indian Air Force and subsequently used against Pakistan in the fighting that followed the partition of India.

The R.A. F. Mk.l8's were employed against the Com­munist guerillas in Malaya by 28 and 60 squadrons, the former being lransferred 10 Hong Kong in 1949 and joined there by 80 squadron with the Spitfire F.24 (essentially a ground-attack V1I.riant of the F.12). Ali this time 81 squadron (ex·681/ 34 squ.,dron) provided photo­r~onnaiss:rnce for the eOlire area, and one of their PR. 19's flew the last operotional sortie of an RA.F. Spitfire on April 1st, 1954.

Apart from the eight squadrons of the Indian Air Force, the greatest U$C of the Griffon-Spitfires by foreign countries was by Belgium with F / FR.)4·s in eight sqUadrOlU betwr:cn 1947 and 1952, and by Sweden which took deliv~ry of fiflY PR.19's in 1948·49 for F.l1 Wing at Nykiiping.

• Up til 1. ,,, t9-12 .u mltk numbo: .... ·.f. in Ronl.On num •• II •. F,om I~l 10 19411 ... bic nurnbo:n .. ·. r. uK<! for • .....,n.y ..... . or K.e. , •• . From t~8 . 11 rn.,k numMr. u,.d It.bic OIyl • . For . a .. IIf rd ••• n. " ,II. lau.r ;. uK<! h.r. for ,h. entir. pol' Wit period .

Good IIde Y_ Iho .... ,"glM new nose I,nes 01 lh. Mk. XII, MB882 01 No. 4 1 SouldfO,., (IW M).

3

AbOve M~ . XIV's 01 No. 010 'COUn1~ of Chclt~.· SQuad, on. Ul"nG 1944 OW_ D. RB1~9 II th" CO's au,.all nc le lW"nant u"lleo w,ndse.cen

R'Ght & heiOw Sl3rboa'd i,d~ ~"'ws 01 OW_D. I~v 5P'"'' '' tOO;! ~ nd tumaGo st"lW. (phQloslWMt

,.

6

Above. F.xIVE. RM 704 of the Cenual F'yhte, tslal)l,Shmcnt. WeSl Ravnllam, 1946 B01h 3"erall wah black and whn~ SP inners. sky COOC5 and luselagc bands (Vta L BachelOf)

,.

Below FR,X IVE. TlI 3B. '" Canida lOt cold weath" leSMII at Edmomon, 1945---46 (f. H~r !~II, )

------------~----

Above FAXIVE. o f No.2 Squad,on. 2nd TAF G ... many 1945-46. (f. Henl~y VIa R. C. Jonel)

Above FAXIVE. TZ112 ul No.2 Squadton 2M TAF. 1948. Code Ol-G NaluI31 melal t.nlsl, blitCl Wnd on $1)0'"''''

Bclow FAXIVE·s and PA 19 S 01 NG 2 Squld,on. 2nd I AF al W.hn, GQ lmnJlv. 19~a-49 (HI"hl Inte,nnfoOnal)

/

F.XIV 01 No 41 Scwad.on. No 12" w'lIg. 2"" TAF. Germ~ny S .. "al RM653. (v'3 R C Jones) .

F.XIV. No 402 RCAF Squtdron. no.e sky tusel~ .. bind hils lI"n p;llnllXi OVIII. SG".I RN119. (IWM ) •

ADove & below f .XIV"I. No 130 PUnl.t' Squadron on a Belg,an arr held. Dec. 1944. In"Ulon SlllDU under lhe I\lselage only. (photos IWM )"

R'!l hl F XIV No \ 7 SQuadfOlI. S ele t ~', Singapore 1945. YB-O. RN972. 11010 Sg«&1 _" whIte unde' fin flutL (0. II( Healey .,~ G. J.

Tllomn).

Below FAXlVE No ?8 SQui>d.on. Kaula Lamp,,! Malav.. 1946.

(G J Thomas).

· .

/

I eU Close UP 01 ~ (ltt~" of YB-O. O. II( fica/IV W,I" groul'<l crew.IO II( Healev~ ... G JlhOlr'')s)

Below VB_C RN20!> ily.nl! aU HMS "umpj!l~ boun<.l to, Kelananll. Milaya. Sell\. 194b

(v,a G J lhOmls)

L .... ·up 01 No 2B SQ(ln F )UVE·. al ~"ala LamP'll'. 1946 Il. NIlBS!I. 1. SM8!13 Gllffin/ealth c,moutl'OI (G J. ThOmiS)

--

AbOve F.XI V. No. 152 Squadlon on 5C1e p ya.d. Sel! ColOlli ,lIustratrr;lO.

leh CI<>SI!·uP 01 No. I ~2 SlIuadl(Ul,ns.gn,a (W Power).

Below FllxIVIO. No. 273 SQuadron. MallVI (IWM).

BelOW F XIV ·,. N" 132 ·C"y " I Bombay· SQllld,on. lie ClltoU ' rllustratlon. (IW M)

RIghi F.XIV·s laing l~~en ashore al Hong Kong. \ 945. Good shol showIng e~moul l ~go oa110 ,n. po&rlron and s.zo 01 na~onal ,nlrgni •. (lWM).

Below Nose del •• 1 01 No. 132 Squadron emaiL (VIa lI. C. Jonel) . ,

Below. FA.XVIII. No. 32 SQuad,on. TZ220. MIdd le EDi 1.

(J . Old VIa A. C. Jones).

-

,

Above FR XVIII. No 32 Squadrcf'l on tile M,ddle East note the hunung horll "'"gn., unci" l;ockpl1. As Seell On Ih,s Jnd pr'CWlno phO\~J.ph ,\ wlS common Pllcuee 10 femove rhe obllllu. cam"r. on FR type lIIelll1. In, port being cavera.:! WIlli iab"e. TP373

Rrgh\ One 01 tllO TP23'" 's lIIen here I probably WIlli No ~:~~i~:i:~"~;, ,

Abovtt On" of tile PR.XIX's fro'" the ,,,'\ O'OOUl;lIon balch WIthout p.es­'''flUlIan. RM64'" 1$ Men here ""Ih No. 682 Soul<lron. l1aly. ,n earlv 1945

(VI' L Bachelor).

R,gllt AM643 Z of No. 541 SQuadron. Benson Ille 1944 FuSI olcc!uchon batch w,thoul p'euu".a1l0n. CoDay Invas,on 'topel on fuselage only,.

(VI' A. C. Jones).

B,low PRI9. OI_X PM627 01 No. 21:::;::::: Squ.d.on. 2<'d TAF on Germany

AI><"~ PR 19, PS8~' 01 No 81 So .. 'olon on df'tachn,~n: al HOnll ~~"{I. 1952 ~~3( FIo9hl Inl~on31'00\3I J.

RIghI PR,U. PM631 'Thum' Fltllll1. SQ, . n Allport 195e NOHI Crudely p.!"'I~d slmal. (A l. Wa'd v ii A. C.

Jon~s).

Allow! lowlevel "'':I1UI' by PR. 19 PS 8s{) II SOleI .. , S.nl/&pore Th,s .",ralr lille. wenl 10 Ihe Aoyal Th~, A" Force, ,eo COloyr ,Ilus. I.abon. (Fhl/hllnlernaBOnal),

A'lIhl PRI9. 1'1.4655. 6C~W 01 lhe PhotographIC RKonnl,ss,nce IkYeIopmenr IJM. 1947_48 Th .. a"crafl was .!-so COCIe<I 6C-X Iher rite roundel chlnge fO pre Wilr l~pe.

R'ghl PR 19 (>1 No 81 SI/uaoron 11>01 c~",~d QuI 'h<' 11$1 Oil"IaBonal 5OI1'e QI • SpIII"~ rn 1he RAF 1 S1 Ap/rl. 19H. ScrOll PS88B,

,

Fa'mal'a" al F.21·$ al Na. 600 ·C"v al Landan· Squad'an. R.Au • .A.F .. RAO-J LA328. (phQla$ Fhghl1nll.nallanll).

-.

. F.l 1·s of NO. 600 ·Clty of london· Sq .... ad!on. R Auo .A. F .. 5tand~ld camo .... flallo and yeilcw wlnllieacMg eJlle stllile. (pl'010S FII,.tll Inlc103110nal)

•

n

A/.Io.o Untie. su,face oela.1 01 f.21 LA195 el Ne 600 SCII/atl.er)

(Fhg!!llnlemBI,enal)

R'Qln F.n of No 607 'Count~ ot DUlham' SQuad.en fl Au. A F, ,n .~em".~,ng5 (RAF/MOO)

AGolis F.n', ot No, 613 'E.S! L~nC3sh,,"· SQI/ad.on, R.Au~ A f" nete SQuan.on ~,psi above tm tl DSh RAT-E PK331

(FI,ghllnIC!n3!,onal)

R,ghl One ot the tow F.ll ·$ 10 Mil e contr a prop. No. 4 1 Squall.on, J uly 1947. sen (oloy. ,llusuBI.on, (lI,a F G Flllomm, Jr I

lop two o.el ...... ~,XI\lE. SG66 01 No, 3$0 Squadron, BeIg.an AI! Force NO'e ~reHnl'l.on 01 Hual on under su.laees B~& .. vr~c~n.n, 1947_46

Above FA'>(IVE. 5G56 01 No. 3aO Squaeron. Bo:o,.n A" Force.

M,x,'<1 $p\il"es 01 No. I S4Y"OCO"_ No. l ""',n9, filllannes BAf, NOlo .,","I,ons "' lhe pres,·r ·al ion 01 tl1l1 sQuadron I n.,~ma

Above & ngh! L,no-up of Fl'UOVE's 01 No 2 S<luad.on. No 2 W,no. Floronncs. BAF. NOli! ~1"IUOns 'n preaer'l'lt,on 01 code Ind Comt' ,nl'Of'l'a on nose.

Below F.XIVE of No, 2 Squ;>d,on On bare mtl.1 ,,,crall " was 11>1 usual practICe 10 pam' tilt CoInnon bI'lters b/ltl;k.

Below F XIVE. 01 No_ 3 SlIuadron. No.2 WIng. FIOf,nnes. No. 1 W,~ lIew Spill,," I'om t~ W,ng 'nd Souad.on In5>On" w,1I be found on the Unrt InJOgn" Plale 1ft AIRCAM NO.5.

J

1947101952 OetlrJlol

B\!klw Camllu! lllIed F XI\iE III No.3 Squadron 81 flOrennes ,n t 948 Flllrennc~ wos bIll" bv thG Lu llwalle ,n t 941.42 as a n,ghl.I'l/hler base and Ihe ' eml,rrs III D Mo.410 un be seen to Ihe lIght. Noto Holly LuI '""On,a on cowl.

, F.XIV. No . 11 Squ. dron. S EAC. Mod",. , Indi . , Jun. ,945: Singopo •• . Ilollononll. M oloyo, S.P' . 1945. M .~I. l • ..,p",.

Molovo, Jon . l94S ; J >pa. 19005.

, FR.XIV. No. 2B Squa d.on. SEAC. Mu.l . LIm!,,,,, Mol.y • • 1948.

• F. XI V. No. \36 Squadron. SEAC. S.' •• o._ Sing. po,., 19045.

• F.l<IV. No. 152 Squad,on. SEAC. M.i~'il • • Bu.m •• May '946 .

• FR. XI V. '10 . 213 Squ ad,on. SEAC. 0 .. ,m ' .1945-6.

• , fIU'Vl". NO. 28 h~.d, ..... FeAf. S .. "" ..... ",,,I,,. N . ... T .. ri,ori ... H ..... 1( ...... 1.50.

, F. 21 U~;. "~.now" .

• f.~IV. No. " s.,u"',o~. NO" n W;n •• l~d Uf.

• f .XIV. NO. 001 Sq."d, .. n. R" •• , C .n.~I .n AI. fa,e •.

• f .XIV. " 0 'County 0 1 C,," ,.," Sq ... d'Oft,

0'" .. . . - - -

, F. XIV. NO. 130 SQ" , d",", AD08.

, f.XIV, Con". ' figh." E" . hll.hmon'.l94§.

, FIUtlV, No.

• fR .XIV. No . 2 Sq.,draft. No. 35 Wing . 2nd TAf. G. ,mon1. 1946_

II r

L

• F,II. No. 4' Sq. , d.on.1M?,

• F.U. No . 601 'COU"" 01 nu.h.m' Squ ' dr on. " 0 • • 1 A.,m • •• AI. FolCo.

-

o

, F.Z2. ~ ... 103 'City 01 Edlnbu'gh' Squo,hon. Roya' Au1l!orv ... 11 foro.. 'HO.

, PH.XIX. No . "I IM~ huo •• "n_ T .

• PR,XIX, ill Squad,on. ~"·T"'. Hong I\"ng. Not ..... " .0no,R blu.oc ........ .

• PH .XIX. Photogr.phlc R •• """,I, •• ,,co D ••• topm'n' Unit .

• PH .XIX. "'" 5<11 Squa d'''",

... ","Jl O _

, fR ,JUV ...... 350 Iq~od'on • ••• "",""h~ft.·IM§"'. '''Ion AI. f .. ,oo.

\ \

G SG 4S

• f.lUV. NO. 3 Squod.GO . No. 2 Wing. f l""'nna. aU_50. ha.lon AI. f ... ....

L • f .XIV. ''th,., le_. C ... ....... 1!M7_. S.,.,_ ",. h ....

• ' ,'IOV. f,ght •• School. C .. , yd •• 1M7_. II."i .n AI. Fot ....

,

, PIt .IUI(. F 11 Wh'll. Sw..,w. A', Force.

, P~ .)(I)(. fo,kl.h Air Forn.

,--. I ,

PR .XIX. Roy.l lh. 1 AI! f o re •. I", No. 81 Sq~.dron. """).

• FII.XJV. R..".,Th.1 AI. F .. ", • .

• F.U. Enp'I.~ AI. f .. ,,,..

E J

681

• F.2Z $v. l.n AI. Fore..

,

, s .. tI,. M~ . lb. '1~. n, Sq"od,on_ M8U5 . Juno''''S.

, h.r; .. MUb. flown by ll . Cdr,

, S .. tI •• Mk ,lle. No. _ Squad,on. M ay 1",5.

MB312

c _ ..

1/ • S .. I1,. M k."' . No. 101 $quod.on, T" ... o,.ol ... IMI.

,

J ... \

I 00 55

©w .... "' .. o __

" , 'Hllr. ",_ .)[11. No. 1Ol SQ~td.o~. HMS 'Glot¥', S...,b_onQ. 1M!.

, Sulh. f~ . • V". "'0. 'Ill SQu Od,o n_ RNVA. HM S ·T""mp~·. 1951.

r

• So.II,. fR •••. No. IIll Squod. Oft. C .. 'h. m..1KO ...

• 5 •• n,. Mk.XVII, C .. mmo"d •• AI, '. ' ''c., II. HMe S ·Sh •• ,w.t •• ". MO." COnodl.n NOv" , ....

TG~'-© "" ",""An

R,ght Sp.lf"e, 01 an AuxIlIary Squad,on. note black Cannon blIsters.

Be low : F.XIVE 01 an unknown unit.

Bottom 3 p,ctu,e. MIXed Spitfire. of the CO"ydc F,ghte, School. IO-C SG 102. 10-0 SG120. IO-L SG16. Note F-XIVE SG102 with prov.Slon 101 ob lIque tame,a.

Left F.XIVE 01 No.1 Wong. ,eIJal SG3.

R'UI'll M,xed lo"nlilon "GIl' 'hll Coxvdc F,ghter SchOOl, to-V SG10B, IO-Y SG112, 10_M SG117, NO'1! lllae~ wong rOOts on ~II aorClih

6~ll,Iw 10_N SG104 orr whnu abo~",n flash. nOle cemou fl"!JO pallcrn and wh,'O Jponn",.

Below In nOn s,andJ.d eamou UJgc 10-2 SG127 SPO,lIn!! ,hoe .ns,,),,,, 01 ''''' F'!lhWr SchOol. Co.yde. ~ colou, ,lIuSUillon

Abov~ . FR.XIVE SGS5 ,~ sp,c ~ ilO

8el(lw An FR

Leh CF- GNZ, ex FR.xIVE Tl138. at .he Clave,ano A"

• Races 'M 1949 when ,I wn placed th"d on the T'nnerman T,oPhv Race", 359 ·565 mpn.

(J. Ha .... ev)

,

5caf"c lie of No. BBb S(luad,on on HMS Fotn"oJblc' w.(il Ihe 'Rock' lorm,ng a baddmp Standard camouf,age w,lI, s,y code~, sP,nna, and undur .udacc • . (lWM)

SUPER MARINE SEAFIRE MI<.IB-47

h i< c\'ld.:nl thai SUJ>l: rm:trinc <:on s idcl ~>d the Spillirt: :I':J C:lrrlc(-b.,,,:d fighter:l5 carll' 3~ 1 9~O wlu:n the T yp;: 340 dC'lgn for :J •• hooked" wrsion \\'a< prepared. How­eVer, nOI until blc 194] did I hi~ come 10 frui tion when ~ul\:c~,ru l d.;ck-bnding Iriab w.:rc COlllplclCd on ]-]M S II lu'lriou •. Order.. wac then pl~c"d in the spring of 1942 for the S .... afirc lB (COIlVC('IOn, of SpiltiT': VB airfrnmc~ ) :m\! lile lie (proc\u(!iOl1 of the Spntirc VC 10 naval ~I and~rd.) .

The Scafi r .... W:h n ClW 10 be the world'~ bes t carrier lighter, bciuJ; 'OtncWll:H \0\) ddkalc for Ihe continual rigour-- ( If d.:ck-la ndi nJ; and r~ llwr dcflcient in mnJ;c. 1I111'cver, II pla)ed ~ mo,t i ml)(JrI~nt role in ~upplyinJ; n~\'a l fighter COver uutil Ihe uuroduction of Ihe Hellcat ~nd Co~~lr illio oper~lIonJI ~e r VICC \\'Ilh the Ro)'al Nav)' in 1944. AI-o, ~flCf the WJr. Ihe Grilron-Seallrc provi<kd a lIucfcu~ of lig/ncr ~uadron~ with a good aircr'Jft until replacement b)' Ih ... Sea Fun' and Attack,·r.

J'roduction of the S ... afl re amounwd to wdl over IWO Ihou .. 11l(] am,;r.lft (mcluding nearl)' eighl hund rL'(1 Grilfon \'c"r~iom ) :md. belw""'n 1941 and 1953, the Scalirc was u,ed hI' ,ollie 1\\· .. · II I}·-clghl regular alld rc~erve M.juadrons 0 11 morL' Iha ll IWelll)' c:lrricTs of lh~' RO)':!1 Nav}·. Peak operationa l , l r"'l1 glh W,h in Ihe ~ummer {)f 1943 wi th eighln'n . qU:llh·olh, rn:lIly of I h e~e op"'radng (rom dghl carrieh, mO.I I)' in Ihe M L·di lerrallean.

Into Ba tt le 1 942 t o 1943

lktw.'Cn carl)' Jul), and Seplentber 19"'2.801,807,880, and ssS ~u:ldrom beg:m 10 work-up \\uh Ih,' first Sea­fire i\ lk\ I II and li e. For Ihe North African I:IndinJ:~ in Novemher, 1101 all(] l«J7 emb.1Tked in IhL' carrier Furiou~ , and SS5 in Ihe Formidable. Of the thrL'C ~uadrons, 807 had Ihe mOSI ,ucee» m elKUUl1la, with the Vich), F rench Air Furce.

Du rinJl Ihe fir, 1 h:ll f of 19"'3 more squadrons r ... -eq uipped wi lh the M k. II C, ~ nd in Ju ly ttl(.' Sea tire$ of Formidable nnd I ll domil~blc provided nir ~o\'cr for the I:t ndi"g~ Oil Sicil)'. For Ihe 5:\ lerno l:mdillJl on Italy in Seplemb.,·r, l'ormicl:thle \\,:I ~ join~d br Iflu\lriou s (re­placing i ndotllll :lbk), lh,' nc\\'ly-commi~~ iuned U nkorn. and f"ur of Ih~ ~ m~1f e~ort earrier~ with SL·ahrcs. T his l:ul(]mJ,! dre\\ a ' trong r..:a~lion from the Gerrn.1rlS, atl(] the SL~lfire~ pl:l)ed ;I 1I,'rr crucial rok m dc(etl(]mg tile beachhead dUTIng th.· early d~n utllil ~llIlre ba)es could be ",~inl:uneJ for the R.A.!'. and U.!:i.A.A. F. Spilfi res. TII!~ action ~:tW Ihe itllrodllclion of the Sealir.: II I

which Imd foldll1~ wing~ and a Mrel1J;therK"<I under­carri:!g .. ·. T he Mk. II I \'~I~ built III gTe,lIer nLJmb.: r ~ tha l1 M I )' uther v;.riant from 19H 10 1 9 ~5, replacing the M k. II C in HI ~4 . Inlrodl,el lOll of the JOII'-allilu"~' rmcd !\krlin 3l and 55M "'Ilgincs HI! Ihe We.,t1al1d .1nd C un[i!1'e-QII'cn prod uct ion ti ne' re~ u l . ~d in Ihe L F. I II ond :t fell' FR.I I I \'cr,ions wilh r;a llla:!>.

Se3hl~ IIC M02!l3 T h~ odd lookIng devIce unda, rha Iusell~e IS a tla"'ng· 'I ~1 C bomb· 10' cll,b,ahnfj 3"$pccd dUflnq lIe,lo,m3noe mSILng.

Act ion in a ll The atres 1944 a nd 1945 In Ih" rough Allami.: wat,·n, Ih" U~C· of Ih" S"afires on

th" '111<111 eM::Orl c~rner~ h;,d nOI prowd a suo;:"ss :md IU6. 1133, 834, lUld 1142 squadrons re-''QUlppc"(1 II"Jlh WIld. calS in the winter of [9-13-·H. How':l"er, op.:r:Hmg hom Ihe brgn c:lrri.:r~: Furious and Ih.: 11,'11' InddJtigab[e, 1101 nnu 1194 gal"e aIr cowr 10 th.: nn\'al :ur ~Irik,,~ on th" TirpitJ. in 19-1-1. Abo in th:1I >'eal", som" U.S. Nn")' pilols j~"", S.:alire~ of the Air Spoiling 1'001, prol"idmg di r,"{:_ !lon for th.: ~hip borl\hnrdm..,111 on 1)-d.1Y. In August (our of Ih.., ,,'wn Briti'h .:~ort carrier~ of Ta<;k Fore~ l)l), eowring lh" landings in ~oU!h"rn Franc<.:. carr ied Scalir" 11/ \ of 1107, 1109. 1179, and 1199 squadrons.

Finalll' in N()\"ember, wilh th~ sinking of Ihe Tirpitz il)' Ih,' ItA .F .. (he Roy~1 Nav)" could ,0ne,'nlra1\' on th~ Far Ea.,l. 1\:llrn"r()U' ,,>con cal"Tll"l", afrl\'ed in th.., Indian oc,'an durill/,: 19-15·and, four of Ihem Carl"}U1g Sealir~s, II"CT,' .:ngag,·d on SInk.·., along Ihe Burrn3 l"()a~tJin.:. Of the 1:lrg.:r l1c'':1 l";\rri':h. lWO op.:ral,-d S.:atires in the l':leiflC. Hhl S [ndd:uigab[e wilh 8117 and 119-1 'quadrons W;lS the 1'...,1 10 arnw and, afl,'r ~Ink, ... on Sumatra in janu;l ry. ioined Ih~ U.S. l"av}" T .I'.57 off Ok"l:!wa. In jul)' Ihe Impl3c:tblc arrived with ijO I and IlSO squadrons and hOlh c:.rna, Ihen iomc-d T .F.37 Ilorkml; in jap3llC~ walers. II \\"n~ in the I'dcitie Ihal LI. R. Ite)'notds of 89-1 squaltron . ol)laine(j mor.: .. kill," 10 lIla~e him th.: only Se.lfire prlot In "ore more Ih~n iiI'': vlelc/ries. . A~ II!" W';lr ~l](kd. Ihe Mk. III \\".1 ~ rapidly pha,ed OUt

of Sl"fVI<.:e, airhough a nOlahk eoX'epoon was Ihe French Noll'a[ Air Sc·r\'i.:c, which operaled SI'afire II !", of Flolille I F from Ihe carria Arrolllanch.:, on'r Indochill3 in 19-111--19. In Ireland. l\I'd ... , LF./Il's of lh.: Air Corps k-d . .1 l·c'ry.p"3cdul c'oXislenee on land from 19-17, ullI;1 rCllr':IIl"!U 1Il 1955. The Griffon · Seafires

Wilh Ih,' ,uCC~·S' of the' GrllTnn·Spnfirc ,·SIabli<h.:d by 19-13 il 11':1' n.'lur.11 th:1I the ROY:II l"a\'Y ~hould bi.' in­ter.·qed in a n:l\'al '·er,ion. Th<.:rdore, the S.'afirt~ Mk.

XV \1':1' or,kr.:d 111 Ih.11 )'ear. This I'ariatl! II';lS Ihc' equi\'­akm of Ih.· Spillire XII, but us.:d the expcri<-nc.: gained II'lIh Ihe SealJr" I II. ha\'jllg the folding wings of the lalta.

Production commenced in late 19-1-1 but Ihe type nc,"cr ~al\' Wartime ~erl' ICl', 802 sqU:ldron being rdorrn.:d lIilh th.: :\ Ik. XV in England in !\ '\a~' 19-15, :lnd in the PaCific, 1;01 rC'(.·l:lvc-d Ihelr firn aircraft in Ihe following Sl·plembi.'r. No. S03 squadron, Ir:tnsfcrr.:d 10 the Royal Clnadian N.1I"~" op.:raled Mk. XV'~ umi! r.:numbi.'rcd litH ~quadron in 1947. Flown from C.,nadian land base$, Ihey were fin.1t1y tr:IIl,ferrcd to the l SI Training Group at D:lrlllloulh, N.S. T he only Olh"r coumry 10 operale (he 1~ l k. XV. \1'.1'. Burma which ord.:r"d tw.:m>' de­na\'ah ~.:d Ver\IOn~ m 195 1 to ~upplemcm its Spitfires.

Inlroducdon of Ihe Sc'a!;rc Mk. XVII was ralher ~lolI' betw.:cn laiC 1945 and 19-17. This was b:isic:llly an im. pr(ll·.:d :\Ik. XV with a Slr.:ngthenL'd undcrc;:arriage prOl'bion for rock':l protl.'Clilcs, and a "tear-drop ,: canop)'. In 1110\1 ,a~e~. the f.:1I' !;Cjuadrons l'Quipped with 111t~ \'arI:l111 kepI th~'lr .1ircrafl for onl~' a shon pcriod, hut th.: r.:...:n·e 'lquadrons. [831 .11 Slr.:tton lind 1832 al Culham, r':I::m"d ,.orne ullli[ 1951. No. 764 Trilining "l.uadrcm II'a~ Ihe I'Cr)' las t uni l wilh Se~fir':$ op.:r:uing th ... F.17 ulllil No\·.:mber 1954. '

Thc' S,'afire F.4S 3nd 1'.-16, b.1wd on Ih.: Spitfire 21 and .22, w,:r,· only built in ' Illall numbers. and, not having fO[~lIlg ."'IIl!:', were relegated 10 (raining and reserve flymg, 1 he 1.1'1 of the Spiltirc'/Sealir~ line wa~ Ihe Sea. fire FR. ~7 whkh remain.:d in production until ,\larch 1 9~9: Th~, FR.~7 W;!~ .:ssc·nt;ally a I"i.'r}··muc;:h m<>dified Spahr.· 1·.2-1 wnh folding wing •. Onl}' thr.:e squadrons ~Iwe eCluipPl'd from 19411 o!l\I':Ird,: 1833. 110-1, and 800. m Ihat ord,'r, :-;'0. 1833 relail\~d Ihcir aircraft until Ihe ~umm"r of [953. and 1100 Il.-II" Iheir~ on ground-alla.:k soni," m "'afal"3 in 19~ 9. In 195{l thb sqU:ldron re­..,mh.1f];,xI on 11.\15 Triumph and roin<"d Ih.: Kor.:an \'I:'ar n~'in~ the b ,1 Seafire combal wni('$ from lal.:-]unc t~ Oc/Ob.:r. 1950.

Scat"e tiC M61!>6 No. 885 Souad,o". H~S Fo,m,dable· w, I ~nd l'ulV "~d do.~n W' lSI I~' t"!)I"t II ,un uo 0"0' 10 13~e·o 't. (1'.\'\,1)

Sul"e Ll IC. No. 808 Squadron. l~rlheSl _/e M8312 1M. G~rbo lt).

Seaf"e IIC ot No. 885 Squadron. "'6_B luSI I~avrnll 1M caiapuI1 On HMS 'Fuflous'

(0 R Wheeler VIa D. J Brawn)

Seat"e ItC. No. 885 Squooron wnh ta,1 wall up .bout 10 Icave Ihe deo;k 01 HMS "Fullous'.

(C. H. Wood vIa R. C. Jones).

36

Seahre IB, No. 731 SQUildron. see tolour Iliuluarlon.

(K Alk,nson VIa R. C. J ones).

Se~I"e LlIC. No. 80~ Squadron. nole IwO tOdes 30- 808 Sqdn; 04- 80~ Souad,on. See coioul IllustratIon. (VIJ R. C. Jonl!'i).

Above: Scali re L.UI 01 tile F,ghter T",n" Scllool Yeo .... lton. Code Y-98 in yellow.

!L Hunt v,. M Gllben).

left Sa.hre UII. No. 807 SQuldron. T"nt:Ornllee. Ceylon. 1945 (G. J . Thorn,,)

Aoo~.' S,.I" f X' "I N,· 803 Squdod,o" R",.I C~r';><f'" N."v, lart""" ,n HMS 'v..,,,,,,, 194b (C~~iKl' '" 0, I" N,)·",n.,1 D ' "cot')

H''lIH (;"0<1 rlos,· UP s l'OWII '!! bomb ,,'" ,i( ,",I , ul SNh,~ f'1, \1 01 "" ~a3 Squad'Ott RCN '" C""ad.l ", 1'141 (C.1nod. on 0"01 N;)l tOI',IIOr IN'CI' ),

- .... IIUo.· S~,.t"" I '1,\1 I'R'I/~, 151 1'""'''''1 (;'"111), Dan· ... wn,. Nova SCIlT," 110c C"'''''J,~n S~.'i'''!i W~, ~ U"u"uai on I,av,"g an ~~".,I '"',,., 10! fif1 '~d l o 'Blh, , 't,." It,.' \lfif 'willI>' tw\.'. Nil '''' ~I$O IMe 'od,o cal l "un I~I I C" VG IIAII ~"d ' IS p! Mental"", Un dd! 11111 W''''li norl on lit" hiS< I •• I" (~,~ I G I ro" "w' J, ) jl . '·w S~al"e f'1,\I. I'R46 1 111 lr~,n,na (;'OUIl c"c . 1948_49 (C.""d,"" D~pl Nalo'~,,"1

A"r!n Seallle F,XV. No 802 SQuad· ron. HMS 'Glory' S"mb~"Nang NOla whllo T on lin Indlca l>ng HMS 'GIO' Y' and code 141-1. See co lour l!luSlrellon,

(M Pj)ss ~Ia R. C. J onel )

Bduw Searll ~ F.XV. 0 L C 0 r,.,n, n(] Fhghl, RAF Balado Bfldg ~ Seflal PR478.

( K AI;'",son ~lil R C JOIlOS)

Algl' l A very sman I duCI,on Sur"e F,XV. bUIll by Wesllund

Abov~ Llne· up 01 Seal"e F,XVlI"s nnd F,46 '2 01 No, 1832 SQundron. Cu lham, (FlIghl Inle rnal .onal).

Below SeMlro F.XVII, SX194 110m l ee·on Solum,

Above 1wo PIC1U!(!S Sullie FR 46. L.A561 01 No. 1832 S<>U;>Ofon Cui 111m. Below MI~cd 10,millOn 01 F.XVlfs and F ~6'$ oi Ili O. 183 Squid ron SI!'\! tolo", ,i'USTllt'OIlS (Ol'lOlGS f'''Jn1101c,nll' on;>!) _0.,......=--=-.......

Seal"o FR 47, VR961 166 01 RNAS CuldloSil

(~'3 l B3CheIOt)

Sul"e FR 47 VPJ 82 01 No. 1833 Sq~~d,on. Slam COle 1953

(~,~ l 8a' 'e'o'J

,\1)0-. S. ai",. Itl '" F n Ae.on3va),· on ,h' (J"'," A"omanchu' NOli! SOJC ul ... oo', .... "Ou,lu"dUS (ECA"'J R C JOt."

R"111I t OOIOw Scaf,,~ 111', 01 F 22 tlrlllI.., Illuhl deck of thc 'Arromancht'S' A~,ona v~lc. (o IIOIOS ECA v,~ H C Jones)

,

Bet'_, ... ScatOle If.nrJ 01 11>11 h,s" A" COIOS (I',~h A" Co.o).

I ~ I ,

Ii I l

H , I ~ ~ , I h ! • : I ..

! , j I , ,

I I I j

,

i , I i , I; " , , If , . ••

! jl I ! l' Ii •• II Ii ~i

I

i ~ l o

AIRCAM AVIATION SERIES Each publication illustrates one type o r malor sub-types of a famous airoafl in the colour schemes and mar kings of the Air Forces of the World. Each issue will contain elgh\ pages of colour side view illustrations. supporting black and while plan view d rawings showmg where necessary both upper and under surfaces. one hundred and twenty­five half-tone photographs, each issue will also contain one lull colour plale Illustrating twenty examples of Unit Insignia of the World's All Forces.

No. 1 North American P- 51 D Mustang. In USAAF-USAF service.

No. 2 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. In USAAF-USAF. RAF ; Free French; French Au Force. Mexican. BraZlhan and other All FOIces.

NO.3 North American Mustang Mk. I- IV. In RAF; RAAF. SAAF; RNZAF ; RCAF service and the North American P- 51 B and D Mus­tang In french: Italian. Swedish : Royal Nether­lands: Netherlands East Indies. Indonesian; Israeli: Philippine; Dominican : Somali : South Korean. Chinese National ist. Chinese Communist, etc .. Air Forces.

No.4 Supermarine Spitfire Mk . I- XVI, Merlin Engine. In RAF: RAAF ; SAAF. RCAF . USAAF. Belgian : Polish. Czechoslovakian . Free French . French. A. Norwegian . A. Nelherlands. A. Danrsh. Israeli. Iial ian : Greek. Turkish : Porluguese . Egyptian. Burmese. elc .. All Forces.

No. 5 North American P- 51 B/C Mustang . In USAAF service. Similar conlent 10 NO.1 bUI wllh bllef coverage of Ihe P-51 and A- 36.

SPECIFICATION GRIFFON_ SPITFIRE

Eump!e chosen" the Tvo- 379 Spul"e F.Mk.xlvE. b,,,n by Supe, · malOne durrng 1944-45 and Ioued wo,h 11>& RoIls· Rovee G"lIon 65 of 2.050 h.p.

Gene'al Span/WIng l 'eI . 36 IL 10 in./242 Sq. II. LlnOth 32 It. 8 ,no He'O"I ; 12 h. 81 on Inle,nal 11.191 111 Iml). gil. ,n JuselaOe end wing lanks. hle,nel 1 ... 81 No,m. lly I 45 Imp. oal. ··SI,pp.r" lank .

W elOht. Empty: 6.600 lb . loaded 8.500 lb. Mu,muno 9.000 lb. M u'm~m o~c" load . 10.280 lb .

Armament Two 20 mno. Hospano Mk. II (aMOn wllh 120 ' .p .g . and twO 0 '5 ,no B,ownlng machine gun, W,IIT 250 r.P.II .. g,,,,nll • comb,ned we'g hl 01 I". 01 8'6 lb. pc, seconu.

Pe ,lormance M .. ,mum I.~.I sp&&ds 448 m.p.h. I I 26.000 II ... nd 357 m.p.h . II le<l·III""I. Cru'$!IsPGed 240-340 m_p.h. In",,1 f.,I 01 chmb 4.580 tp.m. T,me 10 20.000 h. 7 mml. Comb., rld,ul 01 ICI,On/enuurtnc, (Wllh 4" gal. Ulern.1 lank) 200 m,'"sOh'l. a,,, combei almud. 20.000-30.000 IL No,m.lland,ng SPHd 95-110 m.p.h. lAS. SI.'lIng ,p&&d. land,ng conhgu,ation: 75-88 m o.h. lAS.

Fallesl Gnllon,Solll"" WII the ,.dy prOduCIlOn PR.XIX-460 m.p.h. I I 26.000 11. G' lIles, oper.llon.1 IInge wll ICh .. "ed bv 11>& la!e' p,oduCllon PR.XIX_1400-I!IOO m,l ...

F,on t Co"er Top to Bottom F.)Uv. No. 130 Squldron. No. 11 Group. AOGB. FR.XIV. No. 28 Squadron. SEAC. Kuall Lampu,. Malay •. 1546. MkXVIl . Seafire. Royal Canl d l.n Air "orca. 1946. "A.)(lV. Fighter School. Co.yd •. Balglln Air Fo,ca. 1547_.

NO' lor sal. ,n U.S.A

No.6 Curtiss (P-40) Kittyhawk Mk. I- IV.

In RAF. RAAF . RNZAF . SAAF . RCAF . Nelher ­lands East Indies. RUSSian and Finnish All Forces. The CUrtiSS P- 40 Warhawk Will be covered In a fUlUre Issue.

No. 7 Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

In USAAF. French and Foreign service. Ihe com· panlon volume 10 Alrcam No 6.

NO.8 Supermari ne Spitfire-Griffon Eng in e

No. 9 Spad Scouts

No. 10 Lockheed P- 38 Lightning

No. 11 Conso lidated B- 24 Liberato r

No. 12 Albatros Scouts

No. 13 A vro Lancaster

No. 14 Boeing B- 17 Flying Fortress

AIA CAM ' SPECIALS '

No.1 Battle of Britain The Supe,ml"r'I<! $plIlI<e. Hawke, Hu",une ~r.d MUH,.chm,n BI 109£ S'~IHn Plges of Colou, PUDhCluon dllt 31$1 J.nu.,y. 1969

No. 2 Finnish Air Force

SEAFIRE

A compielt h"tOfY 01 ,he F,ntIIsh All flltce bam flltm.uon to 11M! oo eSetlt d.v. Publ,clllon dltt 2811\ N~mber. 1969

h ample chr»en " 1/Ie TYDe 3,,8 Sut"a LF.Mk.UI (I.,e·p,oducllon model ). bu,ll by Wesllind dun"il 1944-<15. and tUted with the Aoili ' Royce Me!lIn 32 eRg'nti at 1.640 ".P. General

Span/w,ng area 36 h. 10 ,n./242 sq. h. llnglh 30 II. 2! ,n. He'ghl 11 h. 2 m. Inl.,n.1 11.1.' 85 Imp. gil. m IUIII.ge links. hl" onil IUel 45 Imp. gal. ",h l)per" link.

Weighu

Emply: 5.400 lb. Loaded 7.200-7.300 lb. M .. ,mum o".,load 8.600 10.

Armami nt

Two 20 mm. H"plno Mk.U "nnon W'lh 120 ,.p.g .• nd tou' 0·303 in. BroWning mlch,nl gun, with 3;'0 r.p.g" g,,,,ng I combined we,ght

01 lor. 01 7·4 lb. De' l econd. One 500 lb. bomb. or two or Ih, •• 250 lb. bombs. Of .'ghl 60 lb. 'OCkIIS. Performance

M .. ,mum I(lvel speed 345 m.p." II 6.000 II. Cru ... sl'tVd 180-260 m.p.h. IM,al r.,e 01 clomb 4.000 t p.m. Combll r.d,ul 01 IChon/ endurance; 180-200 m,111/2 hr. 20 m,n. B45t combat .ltltude 0-10.000 I\. No,mal I.nd,ng speed ao-85 m.p.h. lAS. SI.lI,nG spHd. lend,ng conf,g~'~I,on ' 65-75 m.p.h. lAS.

The Suhre h.","iI Ihe lallesl Ipeeci and long"s\ Ilngl was the FR .• 7 whoch ich'l~ed 452 m.p.h. It 20.!IOO II .. • nd h.d • combal radius 01 Kllon of 390 mdel wolh th'" ,.I..,nll IUei tlnh.

Thl Bllksh,r. PnnlORog Co .. Ltd.. C OSJ)"y Publ'C~I,on$ Ltd.

GRIFFON-SPITFIRE AND SEAFIRE li s t by TED HOOTON

ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS

The !ollowi"lllill coverl,11 known Iqu.dronl ... ~ng Griffon-Spitfires from 1943 10 1954. 1'0< reaSQnl of c1a.ity ..... ,k numbers ... given in .... abie numerals. Chaoges in coda latHI' •. 0/ .... 01 ope<atlon i. shown by two 5epara re lines. IS is re·equipm..,' wilh Inolt>er typo 01 aire/II! or Me,lin-Spitfi ...

The following Ibbr"';ations apply:

Duty : MC Anli·lifaali CO-0pef81ion. , fighter end Ftgllter -bombof. FA F'rghter Reconnaissance.

'" Photograph-ie-reconnaissance.

" Tactic.! phQICHl!COnRaissance.

B ... : ETO North-West Europe. including th' United Kingdom.

" Indi •• Burma, Malaya. HOI>\! Kong. and Japan. ME Medile .... nean 8r88. including n.1y alld Palestine.

" United Kingdom only_

SON. DUTY BASE YEAA COOE VEASIONS SON. OUTY BASE YEAR CODE VERSIONS , , UK 45-4(1 " 1'.21 .02 , UK ..... , LO FR14E , TA ETO 44-61 Nil & 01 FAt4E PAl9 46-50 RA' FA14E 1'21 1'22

• TA ETO " Nil PRIS 50-" LO F21 F22

" F " 45-48 ,,' F14E FI8 603 , UK 47-50 "''' F21 F22

" TA ETO 44-45 ,,' FRI4E PRI9 50-51 XT 8o.Nil '" " , " ..... va FI4E 607 , FE " AF FI4E

" , FE 45-48 "' FRI4E UK 47_50 AAN FRI 4E F22 ,.

26 TA ETO 44-46 >C FRI4E 50-51 <A F22

" , FE 45-51 ,,' FRI4E FRI8 6,. F UK 48_50 RAO F22

J2 , ME 47-49 0' FRI8 50 " F22

" PA FE 46_47 Nil PR I S "" , ETO 44-45 OW F14 F14E

" , <TO .... 5 E8 FI2 FI4E UK '''-50 RAO FAI4E F21 F22

OK ..... , EB & NIl '" 60-" OW F22 60 , " 46-51 N,' FRI4E FI8 FRI8 ""

, OK '''-50 RAA FR14E F22

73 , ME 47-48 ,,' F21 F22 50-"' FY F22 80 , ETO .... , W, '" '"

, OK ..... RA' fR14E FE 49- 61 W, '" '"

, OK ',,-50 RAT FRI4E HI F22

" PA FE 47_54 ,,' FRI8 PRIS 50-" 03 F22

" , OK ..... OL F12 FU FI4E ." F UK '''-50 RAU '" ..... OL '" 50 7A F22

'" , OK ..... MT '" '"

, OK 46_50 RAV FRI4E F21 F22

'" F UK " OV FI4E 50 V, F22 ' 30 , ETO 44-45 " FU FI4E '"

, UK ""'" RAW '" '" ,

" ..... " FI4E ." PA FE ...... Nil PRig

". , FE ..... HM F14E 682 PA ME 44-46 Nil PRIS

'" ,

" ..... UM F14E 683 TA ME " Nil fRI4E

"5 , FE ..... 00 FUE 6" RAC UK " 55 '" ,,. " ME 41-51 AO fRI8 ' Few 101 (f';n!ng 26. TA ETO 44-45 Nil FRI4EPRI9 773 , " " MS fRI4E J22 , UK .. "" FI4 FI4E Oth.r ...... : 350 , UK .. M' F" 8 DTU Photo-raconnainanc, (Ialer 237 DCU) BE LP

ETO 44_45 M' F14E 6 1 DTU Fighw (Iatar 226 OCU) DE UU

'" , ETO 44-45 YO fl4E 102 flying Refresher School Nil

'" , ETO 44_45 AE fl4E III DTU Coastal 30

'" , ETO 45-46 ,. fl4E 226 DCU Fighler UU XL

'" , ETO 45-46 VZ f14E 237 DCU Photo-reconnaissanca " ". " HO 05 ,,' FI2' FRI4E 1335 Conversion Unit (To 226 OCU In I S47) Xl

'" , HO 45_46 ON FI4E AircraH 80. Armamenl hperimental establishment NIl

'" " ETO 44_45 091 FI 2 ' FRI4E Air fighting Development Unit (Iilal C. F.E.) 00 .., , HO 4!i-46 " F14E Cemral Bomber Etteblishmen t OF OS , " HO 45-46 " FR14E Cenllal FighJer Eftablishmenl GO JW UX 053 , ETO 45-46 'U F14E Photogrephic Raconnal' Slnce Oevolopmenl Unll 6C 502 , UK 49- 50 RAC '" .... " " F22 50' , UK '8-60 RAD F22 Royal Indian Air Force and India n Air force .

60 TM '" 50' PA UK ''-'6 ,,' PRI9 AI far as is known no code lettert were used by Ih' Iqu.dronl. With .. es PRI9 Ihe ex<=8plion of 101 Iqn .. III we,e !igkler uni\f.

47- 51 "" PR19 1 sqn. .... , FI4E 8 Iqn . .0-<, FI4E

50' PA UK .,-,5 ,,' PRI9 2 sqn. ..... fl4E 9 Iqn . ... " FI4E

595 RAC UK ''-'5 7B F12' 3 sqn. .. F14E 14 Iqn. 51-55 FRIR

'" , UK .,,-50 RAO FRI4E F21 F22 6 sqn. ..... , FRI4E 101 Iqn. 51-55 PRI9

SEAFIRE SQUADRONS

The listing tollows the same formal as IOf Ihe RAF Spirfi,es except 1hl1 separate lines ar. shown 'Of each cllange 01 carrl$(. Lind bases lIe no1 lhown unless particullrly sigllilicant. AlilO. wilh Ihe hception of squadrons 616 10 842 which were O;Ombined S .. fi'a/Swordflsh uniu for convoy protection. a ll 800-I.ries units W<lf8 ligh ter squadron,. Coda 'eners I.e not shown because many duplications occuned .nd vlnalions in style W9.e common. The basic code ~I.m willi l ied of .'ener/number/leue< lorm.1 indicating: Call1fif code/Airaal1 c1au/lndividual aircraft 'eUer, Singie-Illat tigMan made up one airalll class and Ill"" Seal"," ullId tile numbtr1" 5. 6, 7. and 8. Howeve<. 11M v.riationl 01 form.lwera nUmefOuS. At In ex.mple. 807 squadron used \h, following eolIe. on Iheir Seafi,e.:

T Aircrah T. HMS Furious. 1942. 7 K Aj.aaft 'K', HMS Indomitable. 1943. 8 M Aircraft'M', HMS 8anlSf. 1943. HL Aircrafl 'L', HMS Hun ler, 1943-44 (Code 'W )

05 V Aircrah y, HMS Hunler, 1945 (Coda '0', al$O und by HMS Sralker_OIl, 809 SIln,),

On 31.3.45. lhe R.N. ClrriClfs wilh rhe U.S. Pacific Flee' edopled lhe American style of m"king$. This involved changes to rhe roundels ~nd code lellers. Thu s, Sealira, o n lhe Implacable .nd Indef.lll/able canied rha rail lenell 'N' and 'S' respeclively. and had 'hree·digi, fuHllge number1 bo~inning with '1 ', This syslem wDS extanded to III R.N. aircra!l altar the War.

SO N. AREA YEA' CARRIER VE RSIONS SON. A'EA YEAR CARRIER VERSIONS

'CO UK ME FE 46-50 Tri umph FI 5 FI 7 FR47 '" UK 42-43 ""0' 2C

'" UI( ME 42-44 f urious lB 2C '" UK ME 42-43 Formidable IB 2C UK FE 44-46 Implaeabll 3 FI5 UK .. "'"'

, UK " Land '" '" UK " Auackef 2C

eo2 UK " P' emier '" UK .. ",0' 2C' .. Bamck '" '" UK ME 42-43 Unicorn 1 B2C

" Vengeane. '" UI( FE .'-<, Indeflligable 3 003 UI(CAN .... , Warrior m '" " .'-<, Co"" 3 , 0< UK 46-47 The$eu, '" " " Indomit.ble 3

" Ocaan m '" UI( ME " Iliullrious 2C 3 48--49 G'"" FR47 UK .. Land/Implacable 3

80' " .... , Land 3 UK FE .... , Indef.tig.ble 3 UK ME .. Ocean '" '" UK " Unicorn 2C UK 47-48 Land '" UKM E " Sralker 2C

'" UK " Barwick '" ME UI( .3-<' l and 2C' .. G"", m 89. UI(ME " Indomitable 2C 80' UI( ME 42_43 FUfious IB 2C ME " Hunt .. ,

UK ME " Indomlteble 2C UI(ME .. Khedive , ME " Bal~ er 2C UK ME " Chi"' , ME UI( FE '3-<, Hunlel' 2C' UK .. Implacable '" " Venl/eance '" Rnerva equld,ons.

eo, UI( ME 42--43 Bau ler 1B 2C Lan d based in the U.I!:., wi th occnlonal sho rt ptlriod, o n various ME UI( " Huntel 2C carria" during iUmmer u.tnlng: UK .. ""'

, 1831 Suelton 47_5 1 '" 'OS UK ME " Unicorn 2C 1832 Culham 47-5 1 F17 FRI7 FR46 UI( ME FE 43-45 Slatker , 1833 Bramcole 47-53 F17 fR 47 UK .... , Land '" '" UK " T"cke< 2C

on UI( ME " Slaiker 2C 3 S&cond·lina unitt,

'" UI( ME " Hunte r 2< All training unill with Ih, a~ceprion of 728. 771. and 175. which ME UI( 43-44 BaUler 2C' .. 2 UK ., Fan<;\H 2C w .. "e f loet ReQuirementl Unitl. All based in U.IC. except 'or 728 Mal";

879 UI( ME FE '3-<' Anacker 2C 3 175 fgypl; 778 Indil up 10 1946-also 787 SQuadron.

'SO UI( ME 42-43 Argus " '" HI5 '" F17 FR47 '" 3 F45 UK " Indomilable 2C '" 3 FI 5 '"

, 773 '" S,.lker 2C '" HI5 '" m 775 2C' .. FUfIO\l$ 2C 728 2C 3 '" m 778 FI 5 FI7 f 45 UK FE 44--45 Implacable 3 '" m 78' f15 FI7 '" '" '" C'" 47-48 Lind '" '" F17 F46 770 3F I S 78' m

Prlnled bV The! Berk.hi re Prin ting Co. LId., ReMling. England