Supermarine Spitfire
Technical Information
Background
Built by Supermarine. The Spitfire is probably the
most famous Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter aircraft from World War II. Highly maneuverable,
the Spitfire had a short range. Used by Commonwealth units in
limited numbers, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) in the Pacific.
Three RAAF
Squadrons operated Spitfires in the Pacific:
No. 79 Squadron
No. 452 Squadron
No. 457 Squadron
All RAAF Spitfires used only their RAF serial number before November 1943. All Spitfires (even those which were lost) were later assigned RAAF serial numbers (A58 series) retroactively. The RAAF serial number was never applied to the aircraft.
Three RAF
Squadrons operated Spitfires in the Pacific, under RAAF control:
No. 54 Squadron
No. 548 Squadron
No. 549 Squadron
Technical Details
Crew One (pilot)
Engine 1,030 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II
Span 11.23m
Length 9.12m
Height 3.86m
Maximum Speed 571 km/h
Range 805 km
Armament 8 x .303 Caliber machine gun
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