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Spitfire Season (8)
‘The Last of the Line’
The Spitfire MkXIX (PR) was the last development of the Spitfire to see operational WW2 service. Issued to 541 and 542 Squadrons at the Photo Reconnaissance base at Benson in April 1944 the aircraft was the mainstay of high-level recce for the major part of European operations. Virtually completely redesigned - no armament or cockpit armour - and fitted with the supercharged Griffon engine the Spitfire XIX was intended to be untouchable by the Luftwaffe fighter air arm. With a top speed of 460mph and a service ceiling in excess of 44,000 ft this did indeed prove to be the case and the Spit XIX was capable of PR operations over all of Occupied Europe. Increased fuel tankage provided for a range in excess of 1500miles - more than enough to complete missions well beyond Berlin. This was one of the first truly operational aircraft to provide a pressurised cockpit for the crew and a heated area for the variety of cameras carried - ambient external temperatures at 40,000 + ft average around -80C - not the best environment for human or photo film!
The type remained in service until 1952 and this example has been restored to 1944 standards and is currently operated by an individual French owner. The aircraft is a ‘regular’ at Duxford air shows and was photographed there in 2008 - with the original image ‘mounted’ in a more sympathetic cloudscape from my archives.
| Title: | Spitfire Season (8) |
| Username: | 
patspeirs |
| Uploaded: | 4 Jun 2010 - 9:34 AM |
| Tags: | Aircraft, Digital art, Spitfire, Ww2 |
| VS Mode Rating |
102 (100% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | 47 |
Comments
superb shot this one love the way the arc of ther props can just be seen or indeed imagined ...thanks also for the narrative click click
An excellent image. Your commentaries are very interesting indeed.
I am learning so much from the information that accompanies your excellent images Pat. Thank you.
Phil.
Another great comp' Pat', and a great quality picture.
John 
Gosh this is so good, a fantastic sky and light, so well done. Ann
Another excellent image Pat.
That skyscape really looks like 40,000 feet.
Jester.
Richard - the back of the B2 /B6 was the epitome of cold - the 8 was lovely lying in the wee greenhouse up front - young and daft, I guess!!
Bren - bg is from a 767 en-route to Canada a couple of years ago - about 36,000 ft if the pilot is to be believed.
Thanks for the 'medal' Connor, much appreciated.
Pat and Grumpy
I thought something like that might have been the case.
Bren.
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