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Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa Aircraft Data

Photo ID 137223 by Andreas Zeitler - Flying-Wings. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350
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

Power:

Rolls Royce Merlin XII at 1,175 hp

Weapons:

Spitfire IIa: Eight .303 (7.7mm) Colt Browning machine guns with 300 rounds per gun.
Spitfire IIb: Two 20mm (60 rounds per cannon) and two .303 brownings with 300 rounds per gun.
Spitfire ASR IIc: Two 20mm (60 rounds per cannon) and two .303 brownings with 300 rounds per gun. The Air Sea Rescue (ASR) IIc also had a small bomb rack inboard of the oil cooler under the port wing to carry rescue markers. In the fuselage the aircraft had flare tubes to launch survival packs.

Dimensions:

Length: 29.11 in.
Wing Span: 36.10 in.
Wing Area: 242 sq.ft
Height: 11.5 in.
Empty Weight: 4,783 lbs
Max. Weight: 6,275 lbs
Internal Fuel: 632.9 lbs

Performance:

Max. Speed: 357 mph
Service Ceiling: 37,200 ft.
Normal Range: 395 nm
Max. Range: 575 nm

Operators:

United Kingdom

Random great photos of the Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa:

Photo ID 165862 by Paul Newbold. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350
Photo ID 137224 by Andreas Zeitler - Flying-Wings. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350
Photo ID 80746 by Joop de Groot. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350
Photo ID 141267 by Luca Bani. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, BS435
Photo ID 133765 by Johannes Berger. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350
Photo ID 137223 by Andreas Zeitler - Flying-Wings. UK Air Force Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa, P7350