|
DAY |
SPITFIRE & SEAFIRE CALENDAR
FACTS
PRE-WAR --
WAR YEARS 1939-1945 -- POST-WAR |
|
1 |
1951: No.60 Sqn flies
last Spitfire (FR.18) combat sortie over Malaya |
|
2 |
1944: Spitfire Mk XIV
enters service with 610 Squadron at Exeter |
|
3 |
1935: Design Type 300
gets contract to be built (to become the Spitfire)
1945: 322 (Dutch)Sqn. back in Holland at Woensdrecht AFB. with Spitfire XIV
|
|
4 |
1943: First flight production
Seafire IIc (LR631), Merlin 55 (Westland built) |
|
5 |
1945: American M10
114mm, 3-tube rocket launcer test on Spit. Mk IX, MH477 |
|
6 |
1942: First flight Spitfire
Mk I (R6700) with Merlin 60 (2nd prototype Mk IX)
1942: Spitfire VB, AB205 first flight as 'Sea Spitfire' IB |
|
7 |
1940: First bail out from
Spitfire (Mk I, L1064) (undercarriage failed) |
|
8 |
1937: Prototype Spitfire K5054
1st flight with tailwheel (instead of skid)
1945: 2nd prototype Spiteful (NN664) makes first flight |
|
9 |
1941: Spitfire sqn,
65, 145 & 610 fly offensive sweep north of France (test for 10-1-'41) |
|
10 |
1941: First official 'Circus'
offensive over France, incl. 3 Spitfire squadrons
1942: 1st carrier landing with Mk VB, BL676, on HMS Illustrious,
Lt Cdr H.P. Bramwell |
|
11 |
1943: Neville Duke
(92 Sqn) scores his 8 & 9th vict. with Mk VB, EP338 on Italian a/c |
|
12 |
1940: The Straits Times Newspaper runs
article on a Spitfire which flew over 600 m/h during dive |
|
13 |
1940: First use
of cannon armed Mk I during combat (guns jammed)
1947: Protot. Seafang (ex-Spiteful F XIV, RB520) coll. by
Admiralty (immed. SOC) |
|
14 |
1943: Seafire IIc,
MB141 & MB307 to Farnborough for 'RATOG' testing |
|
15 |
1941: No.341 Sqn
formed from Free French personal at Turnhouse (Spit. Vb) |
|
16 |
1964: Spitfire Mk IX,
MK959 as monument at Eindhoven AB. (in 2005 made airworthy) |
|
17 |
1945: A 70 Imp gal
(318 l.) rear fuselage fueltank test in Spitfire Mk IX, ML186 |
|
18 |
1946: First Post-War
active sqn (165) arrives at Duxford with Spitfire Mk IX |
|
19 |
reoccuring!: A 'ghost'
Spitfire flies over Biggin Hill (heart & seen) |
|
20 |
2004: Wing
Co David Cox dies, 'Ace' with 8 destroyed & 1 shared |
|
21 |
1994: First flight post-rebuilt
of Mk XIV, NH799/ZK-XIV, New Zealand (see picture below) |
|
22 |
1942: The name 'Seafire' is
officially adopted for navalised Spitfire |
|
23 |
1942: First order for Supermarine
for 1st badge of 800 Spitfire Mk VIII's |
|
24 |
1944: First production
Spitfire F.21 (LA187) ready for weighing at South Marston |
|
25 |
1989: Mk XVI, TB863 (ZK-XVI)
first testflight after reassemb. by Stepen Grey |
|
26 |
1942: Two Spitfires Mk Vb from 302 Sqn.
shot down (Fl/Lt. Kosinski and F/O Bednarski killed) |
|
27 |
1944: First flight of
production Spitfire 21 (LA187) |
|
28 |
1942: Robert S.
Tuck forced landing in Spitfire Mk VB, 'BL336', near Boulogne (POW).
1949:
Last Spitfire/Seafire delivery F. 47 'VR972' |
|
29 |
1943: Supermarine releases
specification for navalised Spitfire XII with Griffon VI
|
|
30 |
2004:
S/L George Bennions dies, 'ace' with 12 destroyed & 5 probable |
|
31 |
1943: 457 (RAAF)
Sqn back to frontline duty with new Spitfires
(after return to Australia) |
