Tuesday 7 May 2024

Supermarine Spitfire. American Users, part two. Canadian users of the Spitfire. Part one.

 

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) got hands on the Supermarine Spitfire too, although as such, only operated eight machines as most of them were assigned to squadrons under operational RAF command. 
Some of the Spitfire operating squadrons, were the following:

  • No.411 (City of York) Squadron: This unit was formed in June 1943 at RAF Digby and it was equipped with the Spitfire Mk.I & Mk.II which were already outdated for the time. In August, once the training and adaptation period finished, they were re-equipped with the Mk.V and operated over Continental Europe, specially in bomber escort missions. The squadron transitioned to the Spitfire Mk.IX in October 1943 and took part in the Normandy Landings aerial campaign providing close air support. Following the advancing aerial troops they were soon based at Uetersen, Germany where it was disbanded in March 1946.
  • No.401 (City of Westmount) Squadron: This unit replaced its Hawker Hurricane fighters with Spitfire Mk.II in September 1941 and shortly later with the Mk.V. In July 1942 some pilots of this unit also flew some of the first Mk.IX.
    The squadron took active part in the aerial war over Europe, including some actions during the Channel Dash and various sorties over Continental Europe. In early 1943 they were rebased to RAF Catterick, where they were fully equipped with the Mk.IX. 
    The unit took part in the aerial campaign over Normandy and they were progressively rebased in Europe, as the allied troops advanced. In May 1945 they were re-equipped with the Mk.XIV, aircraft which they kept until being disbanded in July that same year. 
  • No.412 Squadron: This unit operated the Mk.V from 1941 until October 1943 when the unit was re-equipped with the Mk.IX. They took part in the aerial campaigns over Europe and Normandy. They were based to France after Normandy campaign and later to Germany where they were disbanded in May 1945.
(to be continued)


















Sources:
1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Supermarine_Spitfire_operators#Canada
2nd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/401_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron
3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._411_Squadron_RCAF
4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/412_Transport_Squadron 

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