Spitfire IX units in Italy, October-November 1944.?

[markojeras]

Gentelmen,

please, I need help to list all Allied units that flew Spitfire IX from Italy over Yugoslavia in months October and November of 1944.

Thank you for reading!
With kind regards,

Marko Jeras

[bearoutwest]

Hello Marko,


It might be tricky differentiating between Spitfire IX and Spitfire VIII units based in Italy. Many photos captioned with Mk IX are actually the Mk VIII version (with retractable tailwheel).


This website might start you off:
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/DETAIL...mj730/mkix.htm


It follows the unit path of Spitfire IX (MJ730) through the Italy/Corsica/Greece/Jugoslavia based squadrons.


Regards,
...geoff

[bearoutwest]

Additionally:

32 Sqn RAF (Mk V, VIII, IX)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/32_wwII.html

73 Sqn RAF (mixture of Mk V, VIII, IX)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/73_wwII.html

92 Sqn RAF (Mk VIII in 1944)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/92_wwII.html

94 Sqn RAF (Mk V & Mk IX)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/94_wwII.html

111 Sqn RAF (Mk IX)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/111_wwII.html

154 Sqn RAF (Mk IX, then Mk V in 1944)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/154_wwII.html

249 Sqn RAF (Mk IX, but P-51 in late-1944)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/249_wwII.html

601 Sqn RAF (Mk IX in late-1944)
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/601_wwII.html

2, 3, 4, 7, 40 Sqn SAAF (Mk IX in late-1944)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_...fication_codes

Not a comprehensive list, but hopefully will get you started.


...geoff

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Invariably missed when compiling lists such as this is, No.1435 Squadron, RAF.

http://www.historyofwar.org/air/unit...1435_wwII.html

Col.

[Russell]

Hi Marko

In Dec 44 the Balkan Air Force had the following Spitfire Squadrons, aside from
351 Sqn which you know about.

32 Sqn had Mark Vc, VIII and IXs

73 Sqn Spitfire IXs. No mention in the Gorm 541 of any other Mark.

94 Sqn had Mark Vc,

253 Sqn I dont have the info too hand, but in Aug it was all Mark Vc.

All the other units had left the BAF, or were on Mustangs.

Cheers

Russell

[Nick Beale]

Following on from what Russell said, my (possibly fallible) memory of researching the Mediterranean Theatre is that normally Balkan Air Force units didn't operate over Italy and Desert Air Force didn't operate over Yugoslavia. That should help narrow your search a bit.

[markojeras]

Great data! Thank you very much gentelmen!

I am looking for one perticular plane, that was landed, not crashed, on the territory of Independent State of Croatia in mid-October - mid-November period.

How to proceed with research? Is there any kind of monthly, weekly or daily reports that would show losses, pilots that did not returend to Italy bases?

[Alex Smart]

Hello Marko,

For the October/November 1944 time period you asked for.
I had understood for the Mk.IX the following squadrons would possibly fit in.
But not perhaps have operated over Yugoslavia.

72; 73; 87; 93; 111; 185; 242; 253; 601.

There may also be SAAF squadrons too. US squadrons would I think be Mustang equipped by that time.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Marko,

If it is a/c lost that you look for ?
These are the only ones in the time frame you give that were over Yugoslavia.

Mk.IX
October
5th - MK406 - 73 Sqn.
17th - A/c ? [ ER490 Mk. V ]- 253 Sqn. ( edited ).

November
18th - MH958 - 253 Sqn.

And
Mk. VIII
November
12th - JF466 - 92 Sqn.
12th - JF894 - 92 Sqn.

Alex

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by markojeras

Great data! Thank you very much gentelmen!

I am looking for one perticular plane, that was landed, not crashed, on the territory of Independent State of Croatia in mid-October - mid-November period.

How to proceed with research? Is there any kind of monthly, weekly or daily reports that would show losses, pilots that did not returend to Italy bases?

There are the MATAF Daily Int/Opsums (intelligence and operations summaries) in file AIR 23/6511 (covering October–December 1944).

The daily summary section on "own losses" should give you the Squadron (or possibly the Wing) that was missing a Spitfire from Balkan ops that day. After that, you can go to the Wing (AIR 26/ series) or Squadron (AIR 27/) Operations Record Books for the details.

However only the AIR 27/ series are available to download, the other files are on paper only.