Spitfire IXe? MJ848, MJ478 and MK832

[keith A]

Can anyone tell me if these Spitfire LFIX were issued with the E-wing? They are all Spitfires flown by cne Gabriel Gauthier 1944-45. I note that a number of the identified Spitfire LF IXe have the prefix MJ, MK.

regards

Keith

[Nick Beale]

Have you tried this site?

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/production.html

[keith A]

Yep. It's a great database. Unfortunately while it identifies the Spitfires as LF IX it doesn't highlight the wing type. All the photos I have seen of 326 Squadron Spitfire IX in 1944/45 are from the rear or an angle where I can't make out the wing type. I know the few they had in late 1943 and early 1944 were standard F.IX with the C Wing.

MJ 478 was with 421 Squadron and had been around since late 1943 so I assume it had the C Wing,

MK832 had served with 411 and 132 Squadrons, both of which had the IXe.

K

[Alex Smart]

Hello Keith,
There is a photo of MJ478 on page 137 of "Les anions britanniques Auxiliary colours francaises". Coded "8J⊙GG"
Alex

[keith A]

cheers Alex, does it show the front view of the wing sufficient to establish it as a MkIX or a IXe?

[Buckeye30]

Keith--- MJ452 (412 Sqn.) was same block as MJ478 ie. MJ441--485 and was a IXe.
MJ848...close in production was MJ879 (350 Sqn) also a IXe and MK791 (French GC I/4) also "e" and close to MK832.

Possibly changed to "e" wing mid-MJ range but certain runs only ? eg. MJ840 and 845 were IXc s, as was MK941.

Nick

[keith A]

Many thanks Nick. This seems to point to the fact that the many profiles that indicate Gauthier was flying a Spitfire IXe are accurate. I bought two excellent articles by Jean-Jacques Leclercq in "Avions" but despite several photos of Gauthier and his Spitfires none shows the wing armament.

best regards

Keith

[350Sqn]

Hello, I'm working on the history of 350 'Belgian' Squadron RAF and I didn't found any trace of MJ879 in the 350 sqn's archives. Are you sure that it was ever been allocated to it ?

best regards

Serge

[Leendert]

Serge,
According the Spitfire production list, MJ879 served with equally 'Belgian' RAF No. 349 Squadron for a short while in 1944.

Groet,
Leendert

[350Sqn]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Serge,
According the Spitfire production list, MJ879 served with equally 'Belgian' RAF No. 349 Squadron for a short while in 1944.

Groet,
Leendert

Thank you Leenert :-)