Spitfire in Australian Service

Supermarine's Spitfire is undoubtedly one of the iconic fighters of WWII, and continues to garner support from warbird enthusiasts worldwide. 22 distinct major versions of the Spitfire were developed to meet the operational demands of the war. Australia's involvement with the Spitfire began in the United Kingdom, where around thirty Australian pilots served with Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. The Australian Air Force employed the Spitfire in the defense of Northern Australia with No. 1 Fighter Wing in 1943.
Corrections: At 1:23 the narrator should have said 1924, not 1914. At 10:20 it should read "aided by an effective Australian designed and built radar system" - the effectiveness of 1 Fighter Wing was enhanced by the radar in the northern territory - it's worded poorly, the Spitfire obviously didn't have radar, but the Wing benefited from the Australian designed system.
Our sponsor: REC watches www.recwatches...
Please consider supporting this channel by becoming a member: raafdocumentar...
If you are looking for an aviation themed gift and want to support this channel, check out the Military Shop by using our affiliate link militaryshop.c... and you can also use our coupon code AMAHA for a discount!
We are also affiliates with Airfix Models - please use our link prf.hn/l/meNMQn5
____________ Disclaimer ____________
Original footage and recreated scenes may not be 100% accurate to the event being described but has been used for dramatic effect. This is because there may not have been original footage of a particular event available, or copyright prevents us from showing it. Our aim is to be as historically true as we can be given the materials available.
Copyright disclaimer under fair dealing sections ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A,ss 42/103B of the Copyright Act which includes research, study, criticism, review, and reporting of news. Copyright remains with the respective owners. These videos are made for educational purposes only.
The Australian Military Aviation History Association is a not-for-profit association with the intent of recording, preserving and promoting Australian military aviation history.

[@raafdocumentaries]

Corrections: At 1:23 the narrator should have said 1924, not 1914. At 10:20 it should read "aided by an effective Australian designed and built radar system" - the effectiveness of 1 Fighter Wing was enhanced by the radar in the northern territory - it's worded poorly, the Spitfire obviously didn't have radar, but the Wing benefited from the Australian designed system.

[@rkc62]

I had no idea ours where so underutilised. Fascinating video - thanks for sharing. Terrible to think of so many fighters going straight to storage and then being scrapped without ever being used operatinally - imagine if they had just been stored!

[@terrybrown8539]

There is an interesting book available, "Darwin Spitfires" by Anthony Cooper, about the use of Spitfires against the Japanese attacks on the north of Oz. Its very detailed in respect of combat encounters and points to many shortcomings within the Spitfire at that time - Constant Speed Unit failures were chronic and very damaging to engines along with the cannon failures mentioned in the video. Initially, tactics were also poor with many inexperienced pilots facing very experienced Japanese flyers. Despite these issues they had a high altitude capability that impacted Japanese operations and eventually caused serious losses to the excellent Mitsubishi Dinahs which had been impervious to interception until Spitfires arrived.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Severe corrosion of coolant lines on the Mk.Vs was also a major factor in their demise.

[@thethirdman225]

I would highly recommend that book. Far from being a a hagiography of the Spitfire, it is a ‘warts and all’ examination of their deployment in Australia and what went wrong. I was really surprised at the failure of constant speed units. But what surprised me the most was the blind adherence to the failed “big wing” tactics, especially after they had been shown to be a poor way to counter Japanese bombing. I was also surprised at the altitudes the Japanese bombed from. People seemed to think that once the Spitfires arrived, the problems would just go away but that isn’t what happened at all. Fascinating book and highly recommended.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@thethirdman225 I will have to acquire this book, if only to verify that pilot training of proper tactics was the key issue.

[@kineticdeath]

Was really missing the warbirds at Avalon last year. Always great to see/hear the spitfire, and the other classic RAAF legends. If only there was an airworthy mirage as well

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

Back in the early eighties Wing Commander Ed Plenty, found a pair of Cannons buried to the breach blocks in solid rock from a Spitfire in Litchfield, he also found a pair of rudder pedals nearby, on the same trip he found a Zero's drop tank, nearby, It is still possible to find relics near Darwin.

[@royboiiiluo6178]

It’s a marvelous machine, it was so amazing that when USAAF first arrived Europe, USAAF even requested and got some spitfire for themselves

[@nickdanger3802]

RUSSIA (BRITISH EMPIRE WAR ASSISTANCE) HC Deb 16 April 1946 vol 421 cc2513-9 The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee) Yes, Sir. I am circulating a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The House may like to have the following summary of this. In the period from 1st October, 1941, to 31st March, 1946, we supplied to the Soviet Union 5,218 tanks, of which 1,388 were from Canada. We supplied 7,411 aircraft, including 3,129 aircraft sent from the United States of America. As previously explained on the 10th May, 1944, the aircraft from the United States of America were sent on United States Lend Lease to the Soviet Union as part of the British commitment to the U.S.S.R. in exchange for the supply of (about 1,000, see below) British aircraft to United States Forces in the European Theatre. Yesterday's Air Force: Reverse Lend Lease kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHPNe6eVnbt-o68

[@bobsakamanos4469]

the USAAF acquired about 600 Spitfires of various Mk's. Used for top cover in the MTO when Allison P-40s were prominent.

Yes, but the British couldn't produce enough, so the Americans considered building their own Spitfires. The company that was supposed to build the spitfire didn't like that idea and proposed building the Mustang instead.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

Not quite. When NAA Kindelberger visited Supermarine in 1938, they asked him to build Spitfires. He declined because it was too labour intensive (low PM). They also probably showed him the new Spitfire design (ventral radiator) that Mitchell & Meredith had been working on the previous year.

[@nickdanger3802]

@@bobsakamanos4469 "It had been intended to utilise the evaporative cooling system but was replaced by the more reliable ethylene glycol liquid cooling system developed in the United States." The Spitfire Society technical page

[@Cuccos19]

Range was a problem with Spitfire in practice. But in theory it was made to be a defender of the home island, not a long range fighter. Also early application of the Hispano cannon showed some issues, jamming frequently. But all things were sorted out by the time went on. The Mk.VIII is my all time favorite subtype of the Spitfire, and with the distinctive sharkmouth painting what appeared on the Australian ones looks extremely cool.

[@towgod7985]

Absolutely correct. The Spitfire was an air superiority interceptor. It was never supposed to have the range of a fighter, though in later marks it did. To get it's level of performance you have to give up weight, which is exactly what the A6M philosophy was. Cheers.

[@brettmeares9716]

Great to know I was contemporary with people who were involved, or were associated with, those who operated or knew at first hand, the men/women involved in WW2 aviation... I flew Mirages from 1979 at Williamtown and butterworth but consider thepilots of WW2 a very 'select' group of Aviators 🛩

[@JayGuitars1]

Had an old mate who serviced spits up in Darwin, said they lost more chasing zeroes than shooting at them coz they’d run out of gas.

[@benwilson6145]

Pilot error

[@JayGuitars1]

@@benwilson6145 obviously.

[@PaulieLDP]

I didn't know we operated Mk Vs. Thank you.

[@KennyDodge-of2sp]

It is a fine looking machine.

[@Kidraver555]

I lived in evans head for a while and there is an old raaf airbase and I was told spitfires flew from there, also the main street is a huge wide tarmacked road and I surmised it was built as an auxiliary air strip for emergencies as it was way bigger than a small town would need.

[@brushitoff503]

Fricken awesome video! Thank you.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Nice introduction video about infamous spitfire aircraft

[@johnw4659]

Great footage. Thank you for posting this.

[@rickblinkco2223]

For those interested, there's a movie about the development of the Spitfire with David Niven playing the part of the test/ racing pilot. It's on YT

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

The Mark VIII was one of the greatest versions of the Spitfire. Alas, unsuited to the vast space of the Pacific given its limited range.

[@user-fx2sh6pk9u]

I LIVE just down the road from Spitfire Rd wich WAS the actual Runway for an Australian Spitfire Squadron in WW2

[@jimmyhillschin9987]

Nice to find an advertisement for A WATCH crowbarred into this video, without warning that it's an advertisement. That isn't entirely *cool*.

[@raafdocumentaries]

If you want to help us and see an ad-free version of videos, why not become a member with us over here raafdocumentary.com/support/

[@bestestusername]

This is most definately going on the cars bluetooth to listen too on the way home, watch another time listen asap

[@williamroberts1819]

Love it!

[@nickdanger3802]

Personnel from the three squadrons arrived in Australia in August 1942 to form Number 1 Fighter Wing. However, their initial batch of Spitfires was redirected to North Africa to support Allied forces fighting Rommel. Military Aviation Videos Spitfire in Australian Service

[@sam_uelson]

Theres a spitfire for sale on Facebook marketplace in Perth atm

[@nickdanger3802]

The secret fuel that made the Spitfire supreme Royal Society of Chemistry 11 October 2022 The USA developed and supplied the high-octane fuel that gave the Spitfire and Hurricane a winning edge in the Battle of Britain. A French American, Eugene Houdry, developed a process to convert useless crude oil into 100 octane fuel. 100 Octane fuel increased the Spitfire's speed by 25 mph at sea level and 34 mph at 10,000 feet. A 13-octane point increase contributed to the British victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

[@2155raulito]

Thank you for the video about Spitfires, even though I'm not much into aviation. But, you left something open. Why did the Americans, refuse the cooperation of the RAAF? This considering that, Australian more than proved themselves in WWI and WWII. Regardless of the theatre of operations.

[@nickdanger3802]

Source ?

[@reincarnatethylacine3745]

A sad reality of the Australian Spitfire story is that Churchill had a deep antipathy towards Australia and Australians, going so far to tell his secretary after an early 1942 visit from Ambassador Earl Page who pleaded for weapons or the machinery to produce them, that under no circumstances was Australia be given weapons nor the means to produce them as we shall want to sell them British products when this is all over, (paraphrase, not a direct quote) After finally acquiescing the first batches of Spitfires shipped to Australia were very tired examples drawn from operational training units with the RAAF immediately forced to cannibalise aircraft to keep whatever of the rest of them flying that they could. Darwin based Spitfire squadrons struggled to keep half of their numbers airworthy. It would take considerable time before the RAAF's diligent efforts brought about substantial improvements along with the arrival of both improved later marks and numbers.

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Great footage, there is currently one in Brisbane being rebuilt.

[@peterkirgan2921]

My fathers boss flew the Spitfire mk8 along with BobbyGibbes & Clive Caldwell!! He was the c/o at Grace Bros Broadway! Think he bought more people down on the shop floor than morotai & new Guinea !!😂😂😂😂

[@user-tg9qz2ul2k]

Like the narrator

[@gavanwhatever8196]

7:53 is where to start if you came here because of the title. First 6 minutes is a general preamble about the origins of the Spitfire. Then there's a 2 minute ad for a watch...

[@raafdocumentaries]

Thanks - the ad for the watch is helping support us in making these videos (plus it's interesting what they are doing) so please don't discount our sponsor - they are helping make all the rest of the videos possible.

[@soundknight]

Really I think it should have been called the Rapier or for a sea fairing name the Egret. Maybe the Peregrine???

[@mathewkelly9968]

Basically a failure in Australian Service , not tough enough for the conditions

[@captainaxle438]

Yes it was flimsy crude and ugly, nowhere near the quality of the bf109 or the USA airplanes. However brits were definitely under the gun when they had to produce their equipment. Still though not impressed with spitfire, consider them overated

[@richardsawyer5428]

"Grey Nurse" is the last Spitfire that I need in my model collection. It seems blasphemy not to have utilised those fine aircraft and the crews to their fullest extent. As for that watch, lovely but there's a "u" in "honour".

[@craigmoloney4486]

The RAAF wanted to get into the mix with the Spitfire mk v111 but Macarthur held us back

[@ivanconnolly7332]

"In 1914 Supermarine sets record of 226.75 mph"????, does anyone check these videos before publishing?.

[@raafdocumentaries]

oooh, yeah, that's a typo! Should have been 1924. I'll put a correction note. And yes we do go over these videos but inevitably something gets through like this.

[@ivanconnolly7332]

Sorry for nit picking, the video was very good .@@raafdocumentaries

[@raafdocumentaries]

@@ivanconnolly7332I appreciate the feedback - I just wish there was a way of fixing these things once the video was uploaded, but alas, there isn't. Most people are gracious enough to accept that mistakes get through now and then, and I want to know so we can post a correction and do better next time.

[@richardlangereis8629]

Your documentary mentioned 'an effective Australian designed and built radar system'. I'm sorry, but Spitfires didn't have radars. Perhaps you meant a 'radio' system? By the way, I generally enjoy your videos as they are packed with interesting information, some of which is new to me.@@raafdocumentaries

[@raafdocumentaries]

@@richardlangereis8629 So true - that was supposed to be about an increased effectiveness, aided by an Australian designed radar system in north Australia. It should have read " aided by an effective Australian designed and built radar system. I'll put a correction in the pinned comment.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

The Spitfire Mk V was only good at high altitude, the Zero had a more flexible two speed supercharger engine able to operate at full throttle at lower altitudes where the Mk V had to be throttled back to avoid over boosting. The sophisticated Mk VIII was better than the (Mk V based) Mk IX and XVIs in Europe.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

that depends on which variant of the Mk.V . The LF Mk.V with the Merlin 55 was a hot rod, optimized for low level. Climbed at 4720 fpm and high speed at low level, it was a challenger to the FW190 and could outclimb it. Top cover required by Mk.IXs of course.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

@@bobsakamanos4469 The cropped, clipped and clapped sea level Mk V was long after the FW 190's introduction.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 sure, but I wouldn't broad brush the Mk.V . It must be recognized that it came in multiple variants and conditions. The V's that arrived in Aus suffered from corrosion of glycol and oil lines causing many mechanical failures. It's well documented. Sadly, too many Merlin XX's were allocated to the outdated Hurricanes instead of the 1940 Mk.III Spitfires, which were better performers than the MK.V.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

@@bobsakamanos4469 Mk IIIs were only a small number of developmental airframes. If I remember right they led towards the VIII and the XIV.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935 Correct, only 2 prototypes, but in March 1940 they hit 400 mph. With the 2 speed s/c and higher boost, it would have been a far better interim fighter than the early Mk.V (single speed s/c). Yes, later used to develop the Mk.XIII. Corporate influence kept the Hurricane II's in production, using the Merlin XX.

[@allybally0021]

Did US-UK lend-lease extend to financing these aircraft for Australia? Or was it just the UK ripped off?

[@nickdanger3802]

"Over the whole period from March 1941 to September 1945, the balance in favour of the United States in the mutual aid books24 was in round terms about $21,000 millions. But by the settlement of 1945 Britain was required to pay no more than $650 millions, or £162 millions sterling." page 547 British War Economy

[@nickdanger3802]

United States: War Loans to UK HL Deb 27 May 2002 vol 635 cc126-7WA127WA §Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they owe money to the United States Government as a result of World War Two debt: if so, how much is owed; when it will be repaid; and what representation they have made to the United States Government concerning the debt being cancelled. [HL4422] §Lord McIntosh of Haringey Under a 1945 agreement, the United States Government lent the United Kingdom a total of $4,336 million (around £1,075 million at 1945 exchange rates) in war loans. These loans were taken out under two facilities: (i) a line of credit of $3,750 million (around £930 million at 1945 exchange rates); and (ii) a lend-lease loan facility of $586 million (around £145 million at 1945 exchange rates), which represented the settlement with the United States for lend-lease and reciprocal aid and for the final settlement of the Financial claims of each government against the other arising out of the conduct of the Second World War. Under the agreement the loans would be repaid in 50 annual instalments commencing in 1950. However, the agreement allowed deferral of annual payments of both principal and interest if necessary because of prevailing international exchange rate conditions and the level of the United Kingdom's foreign currency and gold reserves. The United Kingdom has deferred payments on six occasions. Repayment of the war loans to the United States Government should therefore he completed on 31 December 2006, subject to the United Kingdom not choosing to exercise its option to defer repayment. As at 31 March 2001, principal of $346,287,953 (£243,573,154 at the exchange rate on that day) was outstanding on the loans provided by the United States Government in 1945. The Government intend to meet their obligations under the 1945 agreement by repaying the United States Government in full the amounts lent in 1945 and so no representation has been made.

[@captainaxle438]

Over rated perhaps. The hurricane had same engine and could turn tighter. Spitfire was faster. Speed won out as dogfight tactics changed. Russia was given hurricanes and spitfires. Reportedly they considered them inferior to the US supplied Allison powered P-40 and P-39's ruggedness in harsh operating conditions. Seafire carrier versions also faired poorly in hard landing carrier operations. Good as it was the spitfire does not rank as the best but let them have their glory as the victor writes the history books

[@bobsakamanos4469]

It's sad that current kids are trying to rewrite history. The Hurricane was outdated by 1940, but due to availability in numbers and radar, it made an impact in the BoBritain. Nevertheless, it had the worst kill ratio of that battle.

[@comikdebris]

Robo voice video are horrible

[@stephenhobbs1052]

Unwatchable AI commentary..awful

[@Geekman333]

What's with the American pronounciation of numbers? Four hundred fifty two. 🙄

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Whoever runs this page stop using AI to narrate. Its clumsy and mispronounces numbers

[@raafdocumentaries]

What numbers are being mispronounced? Will aim to improve on that.

[@bruce4890]

The Squadron numbers. RAF and RAAF would pronounce the number as (for example)453 SQN, not four hundred and fifty three SQN. Also there’s a cheeky bit of of colour footage of a pilot sitting in what looks like a P-51B Mustang cockpit rather than a Spitfire in the intro . It’s only fleeting though!. You can see the sideways hinged canopy over his head and the windscreen frame mounted ring sight.. Not picking though, and I don’t get all the comments about the voice being AI

[@raafdocumentaries]

@@bruce4890 Hi Bruce - So we get it right, you are saying that 453 SQN would be said as "four-five-three Squadron"? rather than "four-hundred-and-fifty-three". Is that right? My Father was in the RAAF and it was always "Twelve Squadron" or "Seventy-Five Squadron", not "Seven-Five Squadron". Not trying to be smart, just want to get it right.

[@bruce4890]

@@raafdocumentaries correct, when referring to three digit numbers. The Dambusters SQN is six one seven SQN, not six hundred and seventeen. Your father is also correct though in this convention does not seem to hold when talking about 2 figure SQNs so twelve SQN or fifty four SQN would be correct. I don’t know the reasons behind this, but perhaps a call or email to RAAF Heritage or the AWM would provide the answer. Keep up the great work with these docos . They are very informative.

[@raafdocumentaries]

@@bruce4890 OK thanks, except for 100SQN I assume - I doubt it's "One-Zero-Zero Squadron"

[@ALA-uv7jq]

Another propaganda video about the over rated Spitfire.

[@DansModelBench]

Thats the spirit.

[@user-wg3tu9sj8f]

? Well you’ll have to explain yourself over that comment?

[@GM-fh5jp]

@@user-wg3tu9sj8f Or he could get a life...what a troll.

[@keithskelhorne3993]

@@GM-fh5jp shhh, he is a tad miffed as the vicar said it wasnt his turn in the barrel,,,

[@nickdanger3802]

@@user-wg3tu9sj8f Read up on how winning the Schneider Trophy came to be.