I agree with Steve. Those Spitfire MkI and MkII airframes which survived by 1944, if not already converted to MkV status, were either very tired aircraft still at OTUs, or used as instructional airframes - one of the reasons very few survive today, which haven't been re-built from recovered wrecks.
Confusion on such details often arises due to some TV and DVD documentary programmes, and many books, including 'stock' footage or photos, purporting to be from a specific period. Well-known 'clips' (and photos) guilty of this are often included in material covering the Battle of Britain, for example, where pre-war film of Spitfires, and some post BoB footage, is almost always included.