After a number of "prototype" and "pre-production" Mk.IX in early 1942 the first 100 conversions from Mk.Vc airframes were authorised on 18th April 1942 for delivery by the end of June. Ultimately 52 of these were converted by Supermarine and 48 by Rolls Royce. More conversions from F.Vc airframes followed through to March 1944. Exact numbers seem to vary but were in the order of 300 (one source I have says 278 by Supermarine & RR and another says nearly 300 by RR alone). The early conversions display a number of odd features to their cowlings displayng the rush nature of the conversion job. There was an article on these variations way back in an issue of Air Enthusiast in Sept/Oct 2001.
When the Mk.IX began to be issued to the squadrons in North Africa from Jan 1943 (yes I forgot about the Torch squadrons!) it was generally alongside the Mk.Vc. Usually it was only one flight to begin with until numbers increased. So 81 squadron for example went to NA fully equipped with the Mk.Vc. In Jan 1943 it, as noted above, got some Mk.IX. But it operated both models until Nov when it was withdrawn to re-equip with the Mk.VIII and transferred to India.
Someone asked about the planned destination of the Mk.VIII. The answer is "overseas". In an effort to maximise production the number of camouflage schemes applied to aircraft was minimised from 1942. AIUI, from discussions on other sites, all Mk.VIII (except perhaps for some early trials aircraft retained in the UK) produced to about March/April 1944 began life with the Desert Camouflage Scheme applied. That policy also applied to other types destined for overseas, like the Hurricane, at this time. If some other scheme was needed when they got somewhere where that was not appropriate then they were repainted. So that is what happened with aircraft sent to India and Australia. After early 1944 they left the factory in the Daylight Fighter Scheme and were again repainted in theatre as required.
The first Spitfire VIII shipped to India and Australia rolled off the production line in Aug 1943, went aboard ships in mid-Sept and arrived at their destinations in late Oct / early Nov 1943. So planning for that must have occurred some months prior.
81 and 152 squadrons were the first Mk.VIII squadrons to become operational in India in Dec 1943. Having been re-equipped with Mk.VIII in Egypt they flew their new aircraft to the Calcutta area. Spitfire squadrons already in theatre began to swap their Mk.Vc for Mk.VIII from Jan 1944.
Mk.VIII began to reach the squadrons in the Darwin area in March 1944.
And again before anyone says anything about priority, the USAAF 31st and 52nd FG equipped with Spitfire Mk.Vc in NA began to receive Mk.VIII and Mk.IX in the same sort of timescale as British squadrons. More detail on this thread
When the Mk.IX began to be issued to the squadrons in North Africa from Jan 1943 (yes I forgot about the Torch squadrons!) it was generally alongside the Mk.Vc. Usually it was only one flight to begin with until numbers increased. So 81 squadron for example went to NA fully equipped with the Mk.Vc. In Jan 1943 it, as noted above, got some Mk.IX. But it operated both models until Nov when it was withdrawn to re-equip with the Mk.VIII and transferred to India.
Someone asked about the planned destination of the Mk.VIII. The answer is "overseas". In an effort to maximise production the number of camouflage schemes applied to aircraft was minimised from 1942. AIUI, from discussions on other sites, all Mk.VIII (except perhaps for some early trials aircraft retained in the UK) produced to about March/April 1944 began life with the Desert Camouflage Scheme applied. That policy also applied to other types destined for overseas, like the Hurricane, at this time. If some other scheme was needed when they got somewhere where that was not appropriate then they were repainted. So that is what happened with aircraft sent to India and Australia. After early 1944 they left the factory in the Daylight Fighter Scheme and were again repainted in theatre as required.
The first Spitfire VIII shipped to India and Australia rolled off the production line in Aug 1943, went aboard ships in mid-Sept and arrived at their destinations in late Oct / early Nov 1943. So planning for that must have occurred some months prior.
81 and 152 squadrons were the first Mk.VIII squadrons to become operational in India in Dec 1943. Having been re-equipped with Mk.VIII in Egypt they flew their new aircraft to the Calcutta area. Spitfire squadrons already in theatre began to swap their Mk.Vc for Mk.VIII from Jan 1944.
Mk.VIII began to reach the squadrons in the Darwin area in March 1944.
And again before anyone says anything about priority, the USAAF 31st and 52nd FG equipped with Spitfire Mk.Vc in NA began to receive Mk.VIII and Mk.IX in the same sort of timescale as British squadrons. More detail on this thread
US Spitfires
I have heard that the Spitfires flown by the US Army in late ‘43 and early ‘44, particularly out of Corsica, Sicily, France, were old models and vastly inferior to the newer models given to the RAF. Is there any truth to this?