By my reckoning almost as many late Merlin variants as the whole of P-39 production.
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By my reckoning almost as many late Merlin variants as the whole of P-39 production.Makes a decent number doesn't it
I have no idea how many planes in each squadron or if they were fully operational.
Unless someone has proof to the contrary I would say that the notion that the Spitfire IX was only in use by 4 squadrons or production was being done at a low rate while operational testing was done seems to be in error.
Good post S/R, by that time two Eagle squadrons 71, and 121 had transferred to the USAAF with their aircraft.By the end of 1942 the Spitfire MK IX was in service with the following squadrons according to "The British Fighter" by Francis Mason.
No 64
No 72
No 81
No 122
No 133 (Eagle)
No 306 (Polish)
No 315 (Polish)
No 331 (Norwegian)
No 332 (Norwegian)
No 340 (French)
No 401 (Canadian)
No 402 (Canadian)
No 611 (Aux Af)
13 squadrons total?
I have no idea how many planes in each squadron or if they were fully operational.
Unless someone has proof to the contrary I would say that the notion that the Spitfire IX was only in use by 4 squadrons or production was being done at a low rate while operational testing was done seems to be in error.
Initial production was low at Supermarine with production starting at Castle Bromwich later.Unless someone has proof to the contrary I would say that the notion that the Spitfire IX was only in use by 4 squadrons or production was being done at a low rate while operational testing was done seems to be in error.
Hey, you missed the part where they were issued Brewster Buffalos!You repeatedly take a factoid and extrapolate it. The 4 squadrons were issued with the MK IX then received an uprated version about 8 months later, but that is about how long a plane was used or superseded in service. The three American "Eagle Squadrons were issued with Mk IXs in September 1942. The Mk V was not being produced anymore, the RAF rarely had more than 1000 front line fighters in service but used over 2000 per year, that is how quickly a front line fighter becomes obsolete, lost, damaged or just worn out.
From Wiki
Operating within the RAF were three "Eagle" squadrons: units manned by American pilots who had joined the RAF. First formed in 1940 and initially equipped with Hurricanes, these units converted to Spitfire Vbs in 1941. They were re-equipped with Spitfire IXs in early September 1942 and were disbanded in late-September 1942 as their aircrew and aircraft were transferred to the fledgling USAAF's Eighth Air Force to become the nucleus of the 4th Fighter Group.[70]
Total production at Supermarine was only 557 A/C up to June 1943 when it stopped at Supermarine. Note with the MkIX, the Mk XVI was in principle identical but was with a Packard Merlin 1053 were made.. From something I posted earlier but can no longer find, the IX were used at Dieppe escorting B 17s which I would imagine would need some time training on the aircraft and training with the bombers.Most new models start slow or at only one factory, but very few aircraft stall for a number of months with only a few squadrons using them.
Like having 4 squadrons in service in Aug and still having only 4-5 in service in Dec. A few planes did but they are rarities and well noted.
By the end of 1942 the Spitfire MK IX was in service with the following squadrons according to "The British Fighter" by Francis Mason.
No 64
No 72
No 81
No 122
No 133 (Eagle)
No 306 (Polish)
No 315 (Polish)
No 331 (Norwegian)
No 332 (Norwegian)
No 340 (French)
No 401 (Canadian)
No 402 (Canadian)
No 611 (Aux Af)
13 squadrons total?
I have no idea how many planes in each squadron or if they were fully operational.
Unless someone has proof to the contrary I would say that the notion that the Spitfire IX was only in use by 4 squadrons or production was being done at a low rate while operational testing was done seems to be in error.
There certainly WAS a gradually reduced capacity. The N started with 120 gallons and was gradually reduced in subsequent production blocks until the Q had as little as 86 with the full 120 gradually restored in subsequent production blocks. The 104 gallon figure refers to the fuel left after deducting the 16 gallons in the reserve tank, actually a part of the inside left wing tank. Self sealing rubber fuel tanks weighed 260# total for the 12 tanks.
Yes I DO get the 120 gallons with the high rate of climb. I'll stand by the P-39N test on 10-17-42 as being at the average weight of that particular flight. The weights listed on the official performance tests (not manifjold comparisons or propeller comparisons on the exact same plane ie weight is the same) all show the test article to be light by about half the weight of the internal fuel with full loads of ammo, oil etc. This was the AVERAGE weight of the plane on that particular flight.
No, I was using data from here.
Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants) - Wikipedia
Mark Built by Numbers Built Notes
F VII, H.F VII Supermarine 140 First Mk VII September 1942
F VIII, L.F VIII Supermarine 1,658 First Mk VIII 11 November 1942
F IX, H.F IX, L.F IX Supermarine, Castle Bromwich 5,656 First Mk IX BR581 June 1942
PR X Supermarine 16 First Mk X May 1944
PR XI Supermarine 471 First Mk XI November 1942
XVI Castle Bromwich 1,054 First Mk XVI October 1944
Yes I guess I read that wrong in wwiiaircraftperformance. Still, 13 squadrons with 18 planes per squadron (12 plus 8 reserve) is still only 234 planes. Certainly more than my "service test" estimate but still not a lot of production for 6 months (July-Dec "42).By the end of 1942 the Spitfire MK IX was in service with the following squadrons according to "The British Fighter" by Francis Mason.
No 64
No 72
No 81
No 122
No 133 (Eagle)
No 306 (Polish)
No 315 (Polish)
No 331 (Norwegian)
No 332 (Norwegian)
No 340 (French)
No 401 (Canadian)
No 402 (Canadian)
No 611 (Aux Af)
13 squadrons total?
I have no idea how many planes in each squadron or if they were fully operational.
Unless someone has proof to the contrary I would say that the notion that the Spitfire IX was only in use by 4 squadrons or production was being done at a low rate while operational testing was done seems to be in error.