32 - Griffon-Powered Spitfires.pdf - Warbird Tech - marko1964

WARBIRDTECH

VOLUME 32

GRIFFON-POWERED

By KEV DARLING

Published by

Specialty Press Publishers and Wholesalers

11605 Kost Dam Road

North Branch, MN 55056

United States of America

(651) 583-3239

Distributed in the UK and Europe by

Midland Publishing

4 Watling Drive

Hinckley

LElO 3EY

England

ISBN 1-58007-045-0

electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage

and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

Material contained in this book is intended for historical and entertainment value only,

and is not to be construed as usable for aircraft or component restoration, maintenance, or use.

Printed in China

Front Cover: Seen on the ground, Spitfire FR.XIV MV293 reveals the location of the wing wallavays, the structure of which

was strengthened to reduce damage to the upper surfaces. (Nick Challoner)

Back Cover (Left Top): Turning toward the photographer at the beginning ofa simulated TacR flyby is Supermarine Spitfire

MV268 wearing the personal markings of air ace "Johnny" Johnson. (Danny Jacquemin)

Back Cover (Right Top): After the first 25 PR.19s were built, the rest were equipped with a pressure cabin tQ allow

reconnaissance flights at a greater height. (Eric B Morgan Collection)

Back Cover (Lower): Seen from a slightly different angle, this view reveals even more of the detail underneath the Spitfire

PR.19 including some of the panel lines. Note that the radiator flaps are fully retracted when the aircraft is manoeuvring at

speed. (Dave Stewart)

Title Page: This underside view ofMV293 reveals the location of the underwing radiator fairings, the undercarriage bays, and

the tail wheel doors. (Nick Challoner)

WARBIRDTECH

i__

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GRIFFON-POWERED SPITFIRES

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CHAPTER 1

PAST AND FUTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPITFIRE MK.XII

CHAPTER 2

SPITFIRES FOR THE MANY

•

THE SPITFIRE EXIV AND EXVIII

CHAPTER 3

SPITFIRE IN THE BLUE

THE SPITFIRE PR.19

CHAPTER 4

liS

UPER PITFIRE

THE SPITFIRE E21, F.22, AND E24

COLOR SECTION COMBAT COLOURS 0

•

OF THE SPITFIRE AND SEAFIRE

CHAPTER 5

SPITFIRES AT SEA 0

00 0

0 73

THE GRIFFON SEAFIRES

CHAPTER 6

FINAL FLING

THE SPITEFUL AND THE SEAFANG

ApPENDIX A

SPITFIRE ALPHABET 0

0 102

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ApPENDIX B

SIGNIFICANT DATES 0

•

0 103

KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE GRIFFON-POWERED SPITFIRE

GRIFFON-POWERED

~~]rWIIE~

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Griffon-powered Spitfires and

their derivatives were the epito-

me of grace. In contrast to the more

rounded contours of the earlier Mer-

lin Spitfires the greater angularity of

the later types exuded a sense of

greater power. Added to the struc-

tural changes was the ability to carry

an increased variety of weapons at

faster speeds and longer distances.

is also covered, thus images from as

far apart as Thailand to Egypt

appear. The adventures of the late

marque Seafires of the Fleet Air Arm

in Korea are also covered where they

performed their task admirably,

sometimes against great odds.

this work I would like to thank the

following: Peter Russell Smith for

allowing me access to his extensive

photo collection yet again; the doyen

of Spitfire historians, Eric B Morgan

for access to his collection of Spitfire

material and for his inimitable assis-

tance; and Chris Michell of Airframe

Assemblies based on the Isle of Wight

for taking time out to photograph a

series of disassembled aircraft for me.

Others worthy of mention include

Damien Burke, Nick Challoner,

Danny Jacquemin, Dave,Stewart, and

Sander Wittenaar.

The appearance of the jet fighter saw

the Spitfire being replaced by such

types as the Gloster Meteor and the

De Havilland Vampire. They were to

remain in service with the Royal

Auxiliary Air Force until its sudden

disbandment on 10 March 1957. In

the service of the Fleet Air Arm the

Seafire and other piston-powered air-

craft lasted slightly longer until they

too were replaced by jet aircraft,

although in this instance they came

from the same builder, Supermarine.

All, however, was not that success-

ful as the last manifestation of the

design would prove. The Spiteful

and Seafang undertook their maiden

flights just as the jet age was getting

into full swing and for all their lami-

nar flow wings and other refine-

ments they could not compete on

level terms as a succession of jet

fighters entered service with the

Royal Air Force. With their demise

came the end of the Spitfire line,

although the wing technology was

to reappear again on the jet-powered

Supermarine Attacker for the Fleet

Air Arm.

Yet again I make mention of Dennis

R Jenkins for his design layout and

of Dave Arnold and all at Specialty

Press for their assistance and long-

distance support.

This then is the story of the second

generation of the Supermarine Spit-

fire in words, pictures, and technical

diagrams from a slightly different

perspective. For helping me create

Kev Darling

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

February 2001

This slim volume attempts to tell the

story of the Griffon-powered aircraft

from the first tentative steps of the

Mk.XII to full-blown production air-

craft in the shape of the FR.18 and

the F.24. In order that the story

should appear complete, the seago-

ing versions of the Spitfire, the Grif-

fon Seafires, are also included. With-

in these covers are the in-depth

details of the fighter versions plus

the photo reconnaissance variants

and their usage by the strangely

named THUM (Temperature and

Humidity) flight.

Overseas use of the Griffon Spitfire

Roaring through the murk past the camera is Spitfire FR.XIV, MV268, with its

radiator flaps fully deployed. The peculiar aspect of the light brings out some of the

airframe panel lines. (Danny Jacquemin)

WARBIRDTECH

I n the eyes of many people the

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