From June 1940 the first Spitfire Mk.IIs left the Nuffield works at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, to reach the operational squadrons in August 1940. The first unit was No. 611 Squadron at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire, with No. 19, 74 and 266 Squadrons following in September 1940.
Externally the Mark II version differed slightly from late-production Spitfire Mk.Is. The Spitfire II had the Merlin XII single-speed, single-stage engine with a three-bladed Rotol constant speed propeller.
The Spitfire Mark II was produced in 4 variants:
Spitfire 329 Mk.IIa: 751 aircraft.
Spitfire 329 Mk.IIa (Long Range): 60 aircraft.
Spitfire 329 Mk.IIb: 170 aircraft.
Spitfire 375 Mk.IIc: 50 aircraft converted from IIb.
At the moment (October 2019) only one Spitfire IIa remains in active service: P7350 with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England. For the 2019/2020 season the aircraft has been finished in the markings of Spitfire Ia R6895/KL-B 'Kiwi III' of 54 Squadron, RAF, as flown by New Zealander P/O A.C. Deere during July 1940. Air Commodore Deere DSO OBE DFC and Bar retired from the RAF in 1967.
- Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
- First Flight:
24 September 1939
- Initial Service Date:
August 1940
- No. Built:
811
- No. In Service:
1 (approx.)
- No. of Hardpoints:
0
- Crew:
1