SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE Mk.IIA, Norway

[Til_Dovre_Faller 191]

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE Mk.IIA

One seated fighter

24 planes

 

Manufacturer: Supermarine
Designer: R. J. Mitchell
First flight: 5 March 1936

 

ARMAMENT

8x 7.7x56r Browning machineguns (350 rounds per gun)

 

TECHNICAL DATA

Wingspan: 11.23 m
Wing area: 22.5 m2
Length: 9.12 m
Height: 3.02 m
Empty weight: 2.059 kg
Loaded weight: 2.799 kg
Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin XII
Power: 1.135 Hp at 3.734 m 100 Octane fuel, +9 pounds lb/in² boost
Maximum speed: 570 km/h at 5.349 m
Rate of climb: 15.3 m/s at 3.962m
Service ceiling: 11.460 m
Wing loading: 122 kg/m2
Power/mass: 0.30 kg
Combat range: 400 km on internal fuel

 

RAF Nr          331 (N)          In service of No 331 (N) Squadron          Fate  

P7289              FN-                   07.11.1941 - 10.01.1942                        Damaged, transferred to 58 OTU

P7325              FN-                   07.11.1941 - 10.02.1942                        Damaged, transferred to 37 MU

P7357              FN-N                24.11.1941 - 17.04.1942                         Transferred to 58 OTU

P7359              FN-V                07.11.1941 - 03.03.1942                         Transferred to factory for repairs

P7366              FN-L/FN-U       07.11.1941 - 17.03,1942                         Transferred to 61 OTU

P7377              FN-A                29.11.1941 - 17.03.1942                          Transferred to 58 OTU

P7384              FN-J                16.11.1941 - 17.04.1942                          Transferred to 58 OTU

P7388              FN-S                05.02.1942 - 17.04.1942                          Transferred to 58 OTU

P7616              FN-T                16.11.1941 - 07.04.1942                          Transferred to 58 OTU

P7625              FN-U                06.01.1942 - 15.02.1942                          Transferred to 12 MU

P7732              FN-                  08.11.1941 - 11.04.1942                           Damaged, transferred to 58 OTU

P7754              FN-                  16.11.1941 - 04.12.1941                           Transferred to factory for repairs

P7759              FN-P                28.12.1941 - 16.03.1942                           Total wreck/crash by Orkn island

P7786              FN-Z                 08.11.1941 - 28.03.1942                           Returned

P7822              FN-E                 07.11.1941 - 04.04.1942                           Transferred to 58 OTU

P7886              FN-Y                16.11.1941 - 28.03,1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

P7929              FN-X                 24.11.1941 - 04.05.1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

P7963              FN-O                14.11.1941 - 04.04.1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

P8190              FN-F                 20.01.1942 - 04.04.1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

P8199              FN-H                10.01.1942 - 04.04.1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

P8646              FN-K                15.01.1942 - 04.04.1942                             Transferred to 58 OTU

P8729              FN-F                 24.11.1941 - 10.01.1942                            Total wreck/crash by Orkn island

P9440              FN-M                24.11.1941 - 17.04.1942                            Transferred to 58 OTU

X4622              FN-C                 14.11.1941 - 04.04.1942                            Returned

 

 

HISTORY

  The Spitfire is probably the most famous fighter plane from World War 2. It gained fame during the Battle of Britain in the summer and autumn of 1940 and was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft. It was also the only one that was in production throughout the war. It was constantly further developed and was in active first-line service for several years after the war was over.

 

Reginal J. Michell's name is inextricably linked to this aircraft. From 1925 he had constructed high-speed seaplanes which participated in and won the Scneider Thropy Races. The experiences from here enabled him to construct a prototype of a fighter plane which flew for the first time on 5 March 1936. The plane had very good maneuvering characteristics and performance. Michell himself died of xxx in 1937, but the project was continued by Joseph Smith, who was chief designer at Supermarine. This company was part of the Vicers concern

 

  Production began little by little with an order for 310 aircraft, which was later expanded with a further 200 machines. The first production model, the Mk.1 was exterior-wise quite similar to the prototype, but had a Rolls.Royce Merlin II engine of 1030 Hp. With a two-bladed wooden propeller. eventually this was replaced with a three-bladed, adjustable metal propeller that had better performance. The Mk.II was essentially a Mk.1 built exclusively at the Castle Bromwich factory and fitted with a 1175 Hp Merlin XII and three-bladed adjustable propeller. Externally, the models were almost identical, but many of the improvements that were retrofitted in the Mk.1 now became standard, such as better bonnet protection. Deliveries started in June 1940, but it was not until the winter of 1940/41 that the squadrons were seriously supplied with this model. On 1 April 1941, 650 Mk.II machines were alive, and most of the Mk.1 aircraft were handed over to Operational Training Units for training new pilots. On 24 October 1941, No 331 (N) squadron was told that the time with the Hurricane was over. The squadron was based at Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands, and on 7 November 4 Spitfire Mk.IIAs landed at the site. The aircraft were issued from No 19 squadron and were equipped with 8 Browning machine guns with four of them in each wing. This weapon configuration was called the A-Wing hence the Mk.IIA

 

  The first time was spent getting to know the aircraft type, at the same time as the operational service was taken care of with the Hurricane. From December, the department was ready with the Spitfire. The planes were old and worn, and some allegedly had a past from the Battle of Britain in 1940. There was therefore a great need for maintenance in the early days. In mid-December a detachment was posted to Sumbrugh in the south of Shetland, and just before Christmas another group was sent to Dyce, near Shetland. The main responsibility at Skeabrae was still to defend the British naval base Scapa Flow, which was close by, in silly convoy escort. there were also several scrambles and attempts to intercept German aircraft during the time in Shetland, the Orkney Islands and in Scotland, but without success in finding the invaders. On 1 March 1942, the message came that the old Mk.IIA machines were to be replaced by Mk.V and the first arrived at Skeabrae already on 9 March

 

SOURCES

Spoiler

https://profilbaru.com/article/Supermarine_Spitfire_variants:_specifications,_performance_and_armament

https://www.adlibris.com/no/bok/norske-militarfly-9788271286873?

https://www.norli.no/boker/dokumentar-og-fakta/historie-og-dokumentar/krig-og-historie/luftforsvarets-historie-fortalt-gjennom-75-gjenstander?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1660092860961099

 

If you got additional information about this, please let me know :-)

 

Til_Dovre_Faller

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