Spitfire R7348 (457 Squadron)

In the 457 Squadron photo album R7348 is claimed to be a Mk.Va. That is incorrect, it is clearly a Mk.Vb (the cannon bulge on the wing is clearly shown and one can just see the tip of the cannon itself).

Could someone with access to update that page please correct.

Steve Mackenzie

Hi Steve

I agree, its a Vb per my data too,..but it was delivered during the change over in productions of Va and Vbs

R7348 Vb 1591 EA M45 FF 19-4-41 8MU 20-4-41 91S 29-4-41 AST 15-5-41 457S RAAF 11-12-41 452S RAAF 23-3-42 FACB 11-6-42 AST VASM 22-3-43 mods 165S 17-8-43 303S 10-10-43 315S Throttle control jammed force-landed Heston CE 3-2-44 FH314.45


But in defence,. Contractually ordered as a Mk1A with improved two stage Merlin , ( The first 450 Order for Spits)as production ran through,...this block were the first Spitfire universal wing users, and most if not all of the last contract run were cannon armed within SM Contract No B19713/39 1st Order 8/39

This aircraft belonged to the last Block of this Contract: Block R7333 to R7350 and are the first fitted with 20MM/303MG cannon Wing

Delivered in blocks between April 1940 to April 1941. Both ran in production with either 8 MGs (initially, as Mk1a, Va ) or 4 MGs and 20MM in this Block, pending Hispano supplies.

Some of this Block was used in tests per the 20MM in trials,..per another 452Sqn RAAF Spit,...R7337 MkVb R7337 Presentation Spitfire "Ajax" ff 08-04-41,DGRD.Vic Arm. 12-4-41 Hth BDn, 7-07-41 gun heating trials,(2 x 20mm 4 x .303mgs) 1.75inch tubes through stub exhausts. Hot air through ducts along leading edge of wing to exhausts between Brownings, with hot air ducted from radiator to 20mm gun breeches. FACB 24-07-41, ASTE 452Sqn RAAF 12-11-41 etc etc

So that's the background,.......except one further thing,..457 RAAF flew Mk1s and MkIIs in July - December 1941. First Six Vbs arrived 11/12/41. The next day R7348 and three others joined. This was the only "R" Series delivered, the rest were new AB or BL Series.



Best
Gordy

Attached Image

All of that is fascinating Gordy but I note the incorrect details in the image Database have not yet been amended to say 'Spitfire Mk.Vb'.

Could someone with a login to the Database PLEASE correct this error.

I can login to the Forum but not the image Database, otherwise I would correct it myself.



Steve Mackenzie

The error has been fixed
With 530 mostly WWII images "stuck" in the uploaded photo gallery I have been a little pre-occupied
I apologise for the week's delay

Thanks Martin for updating, always appreciated when you can fit these updates in for I realise that this is all volunteer and it depends on good people doing this stuff when they can, between life's needs and hobbies.

Cheers
Gordy

Thanks Martin for doing that.

I would have done it myself but I could not login to the Image Gallery .