Jabberwocky
Staff Sergeant
Smith's version of the Spitfire - the much improved Mk III - was ordered and tested but never produced as a result of a very real fear that Germany would resume its aerial offensive in 1941 and a typical Air Ministry short-sightedness, poor prioritisation and petty-mindedness.
Instead, the easier to produce, but less ambitious and lower performing Mk V was produced. It was an incremental step in performance at a time when Fighter Command should have been learning its lesson from the superior altitude performance that the 109F displayed at the end of 1940.
As a result, the balance of performance in fighter operations swung decisively in favour of the RAF's enemies in 1941-1942. With the exception of Malta and Italy, the Mk V suffered heavily to its opponents in most theaters: the Channel front, Burma, North Africa, Australia.
The Spitfire III may not have redressed the balance completely - the 109F/G and 190A were fearsome opponents, not to mention the Spitfire's rough handling at the hands of the Japanese - but it would have certainly helped. Better RAF tactics, better small unit coordination and better training - most important of all gunnery training, such as was developed over 1942/1942 - for pilots were all needed.
Smith's developments of the Spitfire: flush riveting, more rake on the landing gear, retractable tail wheel, larger fuel tanks, reinforced wing structure, ect, ect all eventually made their way into production models. The Mk VIII, considered by several test pilots to be the best of the breed, was perhaps the ultimate expression of what Smith wanted from the "woodman's favourite axe".
Instead, the easier to produce, but less ambitious and lower performing Mk V was produced. It was an incremental step in performance at a time when Fighter Command should have been learning its lesson from the superior altitude performance that the 109F displayed at the end of 1940.
As a result, the balance of performance in fighter operations swung decisively in favour of the RAF's enemies in 1941-1942. With the exception of Malta and Italy, the Mk V suffered heavily to its opponents in most theaters: the Channel front, Burma, North Africa, Australia.
The Spitfire III may not have redressed the balance completely - the 109F/G and 190A were fearsome opponents, not to mention the Spitfire's rough handling at the hands of the Japanese - but it would have certainly helped. Better RAF tactics, better small unit coordination and better training - most important of all gunnery training, such as was developed over 1942/1942 - for pilots were all needed.
Smith's developments of the Spitfire: flush riveting, more rake on the landing gear, retractable tail wheel, larger fuel tanks, reinforced wing structure, ect, ect all eventually made their way into production models. The Mk VIII, considered by several test pilots to be the best of the breed, was perhaps the ultimate expression of what Smith wanted from the "woodman's favourite axe".