Spitfire Mk XVIe Equipment Identification

[Tracker]

Today at our local museum, I was asked what a long item protruding from the wing of a clipped wing Spitfire Mk XVIe was. I had always assumed that it was an antenna of sorts. I put it to the Spitfire experts out there to come to my aid.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Wurger]

This is an IFF antenna that replaced steel wires going from tips of the horizontal stabilizers to sides of the fuselage near the radio compartment used with earlier marks of the Spitfire.

"In early 1943 a new IFF, the Mk III started being fitted to all front-line fighters. On the Spitfire the fuselage to tailplane wires were replaced by a single rod aerial mounted under the starboard wing. At about the same time the updated TR 1143 radio sets started replacing the TR 1133s, although no external changes were visible."

 

[Tracker]

Thank you Sir.
I knew there would be a expert out there more knowledgeable than I.

 

[mikec1]

..
.

8)

 

[Wurger]

Thank you Sir.
I knew there would be a expert out there more knowledgeable than I.

Thank you, that's very kind of you. But there are more knowledgeable guys here than me, I'm sure. Just the question was easy.

 

[Wurger]

Also I would suggest visiting the site...

http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html

 

[Tracker]

Thanks for the site -- it answered quite a few questions.

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.