Spitfire Mk. IX, No. 611 Squadron
Click to enlarge image
No. 611 Squadron was among the first to take the new Spitfire Mk. IX into combat, receiving their new aircraft in July 1942.
BS451 represents the early production Mk. IX standard, with Merlin 61 engine, C-type wing and large cannon blisters. This aircraft had a long and succesful operational career. It subsequently served with three Polish units, Nos. 315, 303 and 308 Squadrons in Northolt during 1943. In No. 303 it was flown by Sqn Ldr Jan "Kon" (Horse) Falkowski, carrying the markings RF-M.
Overhauled and transferred to No. 229 Squadron in 1944, the aircraft survived the war and was sold to SAAF in 1947. [Crown Copyright]
Labels: Spitfire Mk. IX
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posted by
Tango India Mike on 08-Mar-2008 15:53:00
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An interesting photograph, Martin - one that I've not seen before. Of particular interest is the very glossy finish of the paintwork. Other photographs that I have seen of 611 Sqn's new Mk IXs indicate that they all came from a small batch similarly finished. I wouldn't imagine that such a nice finish lasted very long though!
posted by
Tango India Mike on 08-Mar-2008 16:13:00
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Previous comment appears to have been successfully submitted, but NOT via Google/Blogger. Registration with Google/Blogger would seem to be of no use whatsoever as it simply doesn't work and has caused me to abandon attempts to post comments on numerous occasions previously. I've now found that Name/URL works perfectly (or at least appears to), so anyone else experiencing frustration with Google/Blogger might be advised to ignore it and go with Name/URL instead.
posted by
Anonymous on 08-Mar-2008 23:38:00
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While with 315 Squadron it replaced BS451 coded PK.X in late April/May 1943. On 1st June it went to 303 Squadron coded RF.M. The serial number by then was repainted in small characters at the top of the fuselage on the Sky band. It also had the name 'JOAN' in small white letters forward of the cockpit. Only on the port side it seems.
posted by
Anonymous on 09-Mar-2008 00:50:00
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One of the early production Mk IXBs -this one still has the i.d light behind the mast and IFF wires. In Late Marque (sic!) Spitfire Aces Dr Alfred Price has identified the pilot on the outer right to be Sqn Ldr Vernon Crawford-Compton, a New Zealander who took command of 64 Sqn in December 1942. By the end of the war he was credited with 20 (possibly 21) e/a destroyed, 14 of them on Spitfire IXs.
posted by
Anonymous on 09-Mar-2008 10:59:00
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303 Squadron. Used by Flt/Sgt Chudek to shoot down two Fw 190s on the 17th August 1943. According to Sqn Ldr Falkowski's log-book he downed a Fw 190 with it on 6th September. Squadron records say he was flying MA524/RF-F on that date.