Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX operational history
Hello there,
I don't know why, but I've some problems getting infos on the operational history of the Spitfire Mk.IX. Owning two Spits I really want to get things going in my group, but I don't really know how to use them correcty, e.g. pitch them against their "historically correct enemies". In which theaters were they used? When was their introduction? Until when did they fly?
Thanks!
Hi Dennis,
The Spitfire IX was introduced into RAF service in mid 1942. It's first major combat action was the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942 when four squadrons of Mk.IXs flew 14 squadron sized missions providing top cover for the Spitfire V, Mustang I, Typhoon I and Hurricane II squadrons operating at lower levels. The Mk.IX had replaced all other Spitfire types in RAF fighter squadrons in Great Britain by the spring of 1943.
With the Mk.IX becoming standard on the Channel Front the Spitfire Mk.VIII which had been designed and produced in parallel to the Mk.IX was sent to the Middle East, Far East and Australia. The Mk.IXs continued in service until the end of the war in Europe, superseded but never completely replaced by newer Griffon engine types such as the Spitfire Mk.XII (low altitude operations), the Spitfire Mk.XIV (high altitude interceptor) and finally the Spitfire Mk.XXI (air superiority fighter).
Last edited by Carl_Brisgamer; 07-24-2016 at 05:10.
Thank you, Carl. So, no Mk.IXs in North Africa?
A small number were deployed to North Africa for the final months of the Tunisian Campaign. The Polish Fighting Team led by Stanislaw Skalski used Mk.IXs from March to May 1943. They were based with 145 Sqn RAF which also received the Spitfire Mk.IX.Originally Posted by Nachtschwärmer
Thank you, Carl. So, no Mk.IXs in North Africa?
Perfect!
Exactly. As for their daily enemies: Bf 109G, Fw 190A, Ju 88, He 111, Mc 200/202.
"We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."
The following is taken from http://www.acestory.elknet.pl/skalski/skalski.htm and details the engagements involving 'Skalski's Circus':
The Polish Fighting Team (PFT), popularly called "Skalski's Circus", was made up of the best Polish fighter pilots. All fifteen of them volunteered and Capt. Stanislaw Skalski was their commander. After a month's transition, the Polish pilots arrived at Bu Grara airfield (250 km west of Tripoli) on 13 March 1943. They at first became part of 145 RAF Squadron (commanded by S/Ldr Lance Wade) as the "C" Flight. The call code of 145 Squadron was "ZX" and the aircraft of the Polish Flight received the individual code numbers "1" to "9".
Operational duty for the PFT began 17 March 1943. The first combat missions were in "Spitfire" Mk Vc trop fighters, but after a week the unit was re-equipped with new "Spitfire" Mk IX (while other flights of the 145th still flew the Mk V!). On 28 March 1943, the PFT drew its first blood. The flight led by Skalski encountered a group of Ju 88's escorted by Bf 109Gs of II./JG 77. No fighter planes were shot down on either side, but Skalski and Lt. Horbaczewski claimed a Ju 88 each.
On 2 April 1943, four Polish pilots from 145 Squadron attacked 16 Bf 109s of II./JG 77 and claimed three Messerschmitt 109s shot down, one of them by Skalski. The record of II./JG 77 'Herzas' shows: the Bf 109s attacked a formation of Douglas Bostons escorted by "Spitfires", and Feldwebel Alexander Preinfalk claimed one Boston shot down (his 64th victory). Oberleutnant Heinz Dudeck's Bf 109 G-6 was the only German loss. Dudeck belly-landed and escaped the wreck unhurt. He was taken care of by some local Tunisians who fed him milk and ten raw eggs! On the Polish side the "Spitfire" piloted by Lt. Arct was damaged, but he was able return to base.
Two days later, the Polish fighters attacked a group of Ju 88s accompanied by Bf 109s. The German escort prevented them from attacking the bombers, but Skalski and Capt. Krol each downed one Bf 109. Lt. Martel claimed one 109 damaged. Next day, Lt. Horbaczewski scored a single Bf 109, but his Spitfire was heavily damaged on the mission. On the afternoon of 6 April, Lt. Sporny and Sgt. Malinowski destroyed two Bf 109s.
On 18 April 1943, the Polish Team of 145 Sqn ('C' Flight) sustained its only loss, as F/Lt Wyszkowski, lagging behind a formation, was bounced from the sun by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 - Rotte of 7./JG 53 'Pik As'. Unteroffizier Georg Amon shot down the "Spitfire". Wyszkowski crash-landed in enemy territory and was taken prisoner by the Germans. This was Amon's first victory. Two months later (on 25 June 1943, vividly accounted in Johannes Steinhoff's book 'Die Strasse von Messina'), when JG 53 was based in Sicily, the Luftwaffe's Fighter General Adolf Galland (visiting Sicily at that time) personally ordered Amon to be court-martialled for 'cowardness'; Galland claimed that Amon had deliberately turned away from combat to avoid confrontation with B-17s. However, the general confusion on Sicily at that time saved Amon from the court-martial. With a total of nine victories, Amon was shot down by AA over Germany on 2 April 1945 and was taken prisoner by the Allies.
On 20 April 1943, the "Spitfires" of 145 Squadron made a surprise attack on a mixed formation of German and Italian fighters and claimed to have shot down nine, of which the Polish pilots claimed three Bf 109s and three Macchi Mc-202 "Folgores". That day, I. and II./JG 53 'Pik As' lost a total of five Bf 109Gs in aerial combat. At least one - piloted by Leutnant Rolf Schlegel - was shot down by Spitfires.
On 22 April 1943, the entire 244 Fighter Wing with 145 Squadron acting as top cover attacked a formation of six-engine Me 323 Gigant of TG 5 escorted by Italian fighters and the Messerschmitt 109s of JG 27, JG 53 and JG 77. The P-40s of 7 Wing, SAAF, also took part in the attack, claiming the destruction of 31 Me 323s! Transportgeschwader 5 lost sixteen Me 323s. The Polish fighter pilots, led by F/Lt. Pniak, engaged the escort and claimed five Bf 109s and one Mc-202 shot down. In II./JG 27, three Bf 109s were lost: Leutnant Schlechter was shot down over sea and was saved by air-sea rescue, while Feldwebel Rudolf Lenz and Unteroffizier Heinz Golletz were missing. The only claims by II./JG 27 were made by Leutnant Schneider - two P-40s (his first and only victories in the war). JG 53 'Pik As' had one Bf 109 shot down: Leutnant Friedrich Fiebig of 6. Staffel bailed out with injuries. I./JG 77 'Herzas' suffered no losses, while one of its pilots - Leutnant Heinz-Edgar Berres claimed one "Spitfire" (his 43rd victory).
On 6 May 1943, the "Skalski Circus" fought its last aerial combat. On this occasion, Skalski and Sgt. Sztramko downed 2 Bf 109s. On 13 May 1943 the war in Africa was over. During two months, the Polish pilots had shot down a total of 26 German and Italian planes. Capt. Skalski scored 4 aircraft, but the most successful of the unit had been Lt. Eugeniusz Horbaczewski been, with 5 confirmed victories.
Incredible info. Thank you both.
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