Spitfire Trivia - Prototype and Mk 1

[Hagar]

Got it in one Charlie. Give that man a coconut.

I have a confession to make as I didn't read this in any book. That little white lie was designed to throw you lot off the scent. While trolling around on Google, as you do, I found this interesting site. http://www.gsansom.demon.co.uk/vfaero/oneoff/vf11.htm

The rocket powered Me163B Komet designed by Lippisch was retrieved in large numbers, no fewer than 24 examples being given British serials, mostly in the AM range. One or two were used for tests but most were soon scrapped or placed in Museums (at least seven survive). VF241 was secured before the end of hostilities and was flown by the RAE between 1945 and 1947 as as a glider, towed by a Spitfire, usually from Wisley.

I have no idea how accurate it is or even if it's true. Maybe some of you guys can elaborate.

PS. Thanks for reminding me about the Hotspur. I did know that but it was lost somewhere in my rapidly shrinking memory bank. I'm about due for a brain transplant.

[paulb]

Hi Hagar

Well I never would have guessed that one!

But, researching it from the opposite direction........

"The decision had been taken to use a Spitfire IX as a target tug, and in order to avoid the risk of damaging the landing skid on the Farnborough runways, the flight test programme was begun from the grass airfield at Wisley."

Source : Wings of the Luftwaffe by Capt. Eric Brown

Cheers Paul  

[C]

Got it in one Charlie. Give that man a coconut.

I have a confession to make...

I have a confession to make too - I also found the same website, but come to think about it the Komet was flown by the RAE and they weren't going to want to dissolve there pilots in T-stoff or whatever it was called, so it was quite logical to tow it...

PS. Thanks for reminding me about the Hotspur. I did know that but it was lost somewhere in my rapidly shrinking memory bank. I'm about due for a brain transplant.

You're very welcome. Suppose you'd need to go private - don't think the NHS do them...

Charlie

[paulb]

Quite correct  ;)

"...while burning immense quantities of hydrogen peroxide (with 20% phosphate or oxyquinoline as a stabiliser) known as T-stoff. The wing ....was of wooden construction with 8mm plywood skinning covered by doped fabric."

Fast Landing Tests.........

"After a run of 610 yards, the aircraft finally came to a standstill just short of the airfield side of the boundary fence. It took quite a while to free me from the wreckage of the cockpit. My primary concern was not for the cuts and abrasions that I had suffered but for my spine. To say that it had taken a severe jolting would have been an understatement, and, indeed, I was subsequently to discover that I was heavily bruised from the base of my spine to the hairline of my neck."

Cheers Paul

[HawkerTempest5]

Well that's a new one on me, thanks Hagar and Charlie for adding that bit of Spit trivia

Being a Spit nut I've been trying to come up with a poser of my own but I can't think off hand of anything you guys wont get in a second. So, just out of interest (I don't know the exact answer myself so it will be interesting to see what you guys come up with), the Spit started and ended WW2 as a frount line fighter. No other allied type could say the same. When WW2 started there was just one type of Spit in service, but how may FROUNT LINE types were in use at the end of the war?

[C]

At a guess...

VIII, IX, PRXI, XIV, XVI, PRXIX and maybe the XVIII?

Charlie

[Hagar]

Count me out on this one Tempest. I could probably find the answer but that would be cheating. I've been collecting useless & little-known facts on WWI & WW2 aircraft for over 50 years but you guys know far about the Spitfire than I ever will.

[Wing Nut]

Ok then, what was the last unit to use Spitfires in an operational role?

[paulb]

Hi Pippin

Would you count the Spit vs Lightning trial in 1963?

Or maybe the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary AF flypast in 1955?

Cheers Paul  :)

[Hagar]

I recently read an article about a RAF PR squadron based in Hong Kong (in the 1950s I think). I'll look it out for more details. Spitfires were also used by Egypt, Israel & other Middle Eastern nations during various conflicts. I seem to remember one account of the Spitfire meeting its old enemy the Bf 109 after WWII but the roles were reversed. I also found a report that indicates several RAF Spitfires, a Mosquito, a Tempest & varous other types being shot down by Israeli Spitfires & P-51Ds during the War of Independence. (1948/9)

PS.

Israel Air Force Victory Totals By Date
   Date        Aircraft        Number    Kill          Country
 03-Jun-48 Avia S 199               2 C-47              Egypt
 08-Jun-48 Avia S 199               1 Spitfire          Egypt
 10-Jul-48 Avia S 199               1 AT-6              Syria
 18-Jul-48 Avia S 199               1 Spitfire          Egypt
 23-Sep-48 Avia S 199               1 Rapide            Jordan
 16-Oct-48 Avia S 199               1 Spitfire          Egypt
 19-Oct-48 Beaufighter              1 Fury              Egypt
 21-Oct-48 Spitfire IX              1 Spitfire          Egypt
 04-Nov-48 Spitfire IX              1 C-47              Egypt
 17-Nov-48 Spitfire IX            0.5 Spitfire          Egypt
           P-51D                  0.5 Spitfire          Egypt
 20-Nov-48 P-51D                    1 Mosquito          Britain
 22-Dec-48 Spitfire IX              1 MC.205V           Egypt
 28-Dec-48 Spitfire IX              2 MC.205V           Egypt
           Spitfire IX              1 Spitfire          Egypt
 30-Dec-48 Spitfire IX              2 MC.205V           Egypt
 31-Dec-48 Spitfire IX              1 MC.205V           Egypt
           Spitfire IX              1 Spitfire          Egypt
 05-Jan-49 Spitfire IX              1 MC.205V           Egypt
           P-51D                    1 MC.205V           Egypt
 07-Jan-49 Spitfire IX              3 Spitfire          Britain
           P-51D                    2 MC.205V           Egypt
           Spitfire IX              1 Tempest           Britain

http://home.sprynet.com/~anneled/IAFtotal.html

[C]

Apart from the Lightning trials, THUM (Teperature and Humidity) Flight at Woodvale, whose XIX's went off to Biggin to for the Battle of Britain Flight in 1957...

I believe that the Spit v Lightning trials was one of these three XIX's anyway, but off tghe top of my head I can't remeber which.

Charlie

[Wing Nut]

Sorry, I should have specified a British Squadron.  They were Mk XXIV's

[paulb]

I think that the last British sqn in a bit to easy to look up, so I will pass on that one as I dont know the answer off the top of my head.  ::)

Hot_Charlie - the aircraft was a XIX as you thought.  ;D

Cheers Paul

[HawkerTempest5]

The last RAF Squadron to operate Spitfires was No80 Squadron based at Kia Tak. It operated the F Mk 24 until January 1952 when they were replaced by DH Hornets.

As for my own question, I think it is eight Mk's of Spit and two Seafires at wars end in August 45.
Spits MkVIII, IX, XI, XIV, XVI, XVIII, XIX and F Mk 21
Seafires MkIII and XV.

[C]

If they were 24's then I'd guess an RAuxAF Squadron, one of the "600s". Might have a look now...

Tempest, when did the 21s become operational (I'm guessing between VE and VJ Day, they're a bit modern as far as my Spit knowledge goes...)?

Charlie