Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa Aircraft Data
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.
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.
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 |
Random great photos of the Supermarine 329 Spitfire IIa:
