Spitfire Vb usage in 1944 in the West

[LukeFF]

As there will be a few squadrons for Normandy that use the Spitfire Vb, which of the two available engines is more appropriate to set as default for 1944?

[DBFlyguy]

Not sure on engine, would think the 46 would be appropriate in this later stage Spit VB use? On a related question though, are there plans to include VCS-7 in the career? Would be cool to fly Spits as an American over Normandy and would finally put USN aviators in the game ?

Edited July 13, 2022 by DBFlyguy

[LukeFF]

20 hours ago, DBFlyguy said:

On a related question though, are there plans to include VCS-7 in the career? Would be cool to fly Spits as an American over Normandy and would finally put USN aviators in the game ?

 

VCS-7 is planned to be in the game but AI-only at this point. It would be too weird having USN pilots flying with USAAF ranks and earning USAAF medals.

[Mtnbiker1998]

Hadn't heard of VCS-7, neat that they'll be included even if just AI for now! Glad to see that the old Vb will still get some use in Normandy too.

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Mtnbiker1998 said:

Hadn't heard of VCS-7, neat that they'll be included even if just AI for now! Glad to see that the old Vb will still get some use in Normandy too.

 

Yes, it surprised me to find out how many squadrons were still using the Vb in 1944. There should be about a half-dozen flyable, plus another 4 AI squads flying it during the Normandy campaign - some of them for the entire time!

[DD_Fenrir]

Spitfire units still equipped with the Mk V based in southern England on the run up to the invasion were generally using the Merlin 45M powered LF.Vb/c variant.

 

By D-Day no Mk.V equipped fighter units were in 2nd TAF though many Mk.Vs were in use by the Air Spotting Pool units.

 

ADGB still had 6 Fighter Squadrons equipped with Mk.Vs:

• 64 Sqn
• 130 Sqn
• 303 Sqn
• 402 Sqn
• 611 Sqn
• 350 Sqn

All of these units had upgraded to Mk.IXs or Mk.XIVs by the Autumn of 1944

 

There is not much photographic evidence of these units aircraft in the run-up to D-Day; some evidence points to these generally - but not exclusively - having clipped wings.

 

This is a 64 Sqn machine:

 

Note the later style streamlined bullet proof windscreen but still has 3 stack exhausts and a de Havilland prop.

 

 

[Monty_Thrud]

From Air Combat Legends Vol.1...

 

 

[Sandmarken]

Wil the spit.ix be available for the normandy career? Even if they didnt usually have e-wing at that time? ?

[LukeFF]

6 hours ago, DD_Fenrir said:

Spitfire units still equipped with the Mk V based in southern England on the run up to the invasion were generally using the Merlin 45M powered LF.Vb/c variant.

 

By D-Day no Mk.V equipped fighter units were in 2nd TAF though many Mk.Vs were in use by the Air Spotting Pool units.

 

ADGB still had 6 Fighter Squadrons equipped with Mk.Vs:

• 64 Sqn
• 130 Sqn
• 303 Sqn
• 402 Sqn
• 611 Sqn
• 350 Sqn

All of these units had upgraded to Mk.IXs or Mk.XIVs by the Autumn of 1944

 

There is not much photographic evidence of these units aircraft in the run-up to D-Day; some evidence points to these generally - but not exclusively - having clipped wings.

 

This is a 64 Sqn machine:

 

Note the later style streamlined bullet proof windscreen but still has 3 stack exhausts and a de Havilland prop.

 

Thanks - these are the Spitfire Vb squadrons planned for Normandy, along with when they fly the Mk V:

 

26 Squadron: June - August 1944

63 Squadron: June - July 1944

64 Squadron: April - June 1944

130 Squadron: April - August 1944

303 Squadron: April - June 1944

345 Squadron: April - August 1944

350 Squadron: April - July 1944

402 Squadron: April - July 1944

611 Squadron: April - June 1944

VCS-7: June 1944

 

4 hours ago, Sandmarken said:

Wil the spit.ix be available for the normandy career? Even if they didnt usually have e-wing at that time? ?

 

Yes

[Mtnbiker1998]

14 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

Yes, it surprised me to find out how many squadrons were still using the Vb in 1944. There should be about a half-dozen flyable, plus another 4 AI squads flying it during the Normandy campaign - some of them for the entire time!

Curious if any of them will be other US squadrons? Maybe some in the IX? It'd be fun to fly a US Spitfire campaign alongside a British Mustang Campaign! ?

[LukeFF]

56 minutes ago, Mtnbiker1998 said:

Curious if any of them will be other US squadrons? Maybe some in the IX? It'd be fun to fly a US Spitfire campaign alongside a British Mustang Campaign! ?

 

I wish! ? But no, all the Spitfire IX squadrons will be RAF. 

[Gingerwelsh]

14 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

Thanks - these are the Spitfire Vb squadrons planned for Normandy, along with when they fly the Mk V:

 

26 Squadron: June - August 1944

63 Squadron: June - July 1944

64 Squadron: April - June 1944

130 Squadron: April - August 1944

303 Squadron: April - June 1944

345 Squadron: April - August 1944

350 Squadron: April - July 1944

402 Squadron: April - July 1944

611 Squadron: April - June 1944

VCS-7: June 1944

 

 

 

 

Is there any reason 234 Squadron, (Deanland) is missing off your list?

[LukeFF]

29 minutes ago, Gingerwelsh said:

Is there any reason 234 Squadron, (Deanland) is missing off your list?

 

Ack, looks like we missed that one. ? But, I know of a way to have it show up.

[DD_Fenrir]

9 hours ago, Gingerwelsh said:

 

Is there any reason 234 Squadron, (Deanland) is missing off your list?

Well spotted Ginger, a squadron I should have included as I am well aware of but somehow forgot to include. I’ll blame old age…

[LukeFF]

Yes, 234 Squadron is now planned to be on the map, along with a Spitfire IX squadron that was also overlooked.

[sevenless]

Too bad we don´t get an Mk.V LF to play around. With 45M, 50M and 55M engines. Anyways better to have the Vb integrated than nothing. Hope for a IXc also. So many nice planes...

 

[Gingerwelsh]

On 7/16/2022 at 5:09 PM, DD_Fenrir said:

Well spotted Ginger, a squadron I should have included as I am well aware of but somehow forgot to include. I’ll blame old age…

 

It's Deanland, in my home county of Sussex, that caught my eye, an airfield I always meant to visit but never did and now never will.

Old age, gets us all in time.

 

..

Edited July 19, 2022 by Gingerwelsh

[Juri_JS]

A question on the SpitV equipped RAF units. What types of mission did they fly in 1944? Only defensive patrols or also offensive missions?

 

By the way...Luke, please don't forget to tell the devs that we will need an official 1944 pre-invasion skin for the Spitfire V, that's still missing at the moment.

[LukeFF]

9 hours ago, Juri_JS said:

A question on the SpitV equipped RAF units. What types of mission did they fly in 1944? Only defensive patrols or also offensive missions?

 

By the way...Luke, please don't forget to tell the devs that we will need an official 1944 pre-invasion skin for the Spitfire V, that's still missing at the moment.

 

It was mostly a mix of bomber escort and patrol missions, but every now and then they did fly sweeps. 

 

Skins: yes, it's something they hope to rectify soon.

[DBFlyguy]

9 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

 

Skins: yes, it's something they hope to rectify soon.

Do you know if they'll be getting any British bomb armament options as well?

 

 

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, DBFlyguy said:

Do you know if they'll be getting any British bomb armament options as well?

 

 

 

I doubt it at this point.