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Thanks MikeHotel, much appreciated

The earlier Mk.IX's were actually Mk.V airframes which had received the more powerfull Merlin 60 engine, so they still had the Mk.V rudder, but were now designated Mk.IX's. From the 7th February 1944, the newer broad chord "pointy" rudder, was introduced into the Spitfire production lines. This was to give better directional stability to the aircraft. Specifically after the fitting of the more powerfull later Merlin engines, it allowed the pilots to counter the engine torque on take-offs. It also greatly assisted in cross-wind landings & take-offs, bearing in mind that most World War II airfields were temporary fields & it was not always possible to face into the wind.

Cheers

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Brent Best

This explains it a tad better


Source: Spitfire A Complete Fighting History by Alfred price

Cheers

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Brent Best

Spitfire Mk.Vb, WR-R, EP688, N° 40 Squadron, Luqa, Malta, 1943.

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Brent Best

Thanks Kremlin. Look forward to more of your artwork.

Spitfire Mk.Vb, AX-N, ER874, “Cirecooks V”, N° 1 Squadron, Goubrine, Tunisia, April 1943.



Cheers

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Brent Best

Capt S.W van der Merwe 102821V Pilot SAAF 25 †
Schalk Willem
Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, Military Allotment, Grave 96919C, KIFA in South Africa

7 Air Depot
P-40E-1 / Kittyhawk Mk.IA 5008 / EV-165 / 41-36419
Crashed at St Albans, South Africa

This aircraft had previously served with 112 (RAF) Squadron (Sharks Mouth) in North Africa

Thanks for this W407594F I've edited the text.

It was then actually quite a P-40 of note:

This was one of the aircraft piloted by the OC 112 sqdn, Sqdn.Ldr Billy Drake. The "?" was assigned to an aircraft if the squadron had more than 26 aircraft and / or assigned to the squadron leaders aircraft.

Interesting though, how/why an ex-112 sqdn aircraft from 1942, winds its way down to PE in 1944

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Brent Best

Spitfire Mk.Vc, AX-W, JL113, Italy, 1943.

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Brent Best

The three main RAF colour patterns found on SAAF Spitfires.



Cheers

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Brent Best

Spitfire Mk.Vc, KJ-Z, N° 4 Squadron, Sicily, August 1943.



Cheers

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Brent Best

The Man is on a roll!

Awesome stuff Kremlin.

Kremlin, I have to say that your work is outstanding, keep it up.

Thanks Dean, gregair

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Brent Best

The "Flying Cheetahs" ... Spitfire Mk.Vc, DB-V, JL115, N° 2 Squadron, Gioia del Colle, Italy, October 1943.



Cheers

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Brent Best

Very short lived N° 9 Squadron ...

Spitfire Mk.Vc, C, ES354, N° 9 Squadron, El Gamil, Egypt, June 1944.

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Brent Best