Malta Spitfire question (no, not the blue thing...)

[Paul Wagner]

Don't panic, I think I've got a handle on the Blue Spitfire question....

But I do want to know something about Mk.Vs generally, and in particular reference to Malta

Some Mk.Vs had clipped wings, some did not. When did this habit originate? Malta, it seemed, had a mix of Vbs and Vcs, with and without trop filters - would any of these have flown with clipped wings?

Did any Vtrops ever fly with clipped wings anywhere?

Paul

[Giorgio N]

Did any Vtrops ever fly with clipped wings anywhere?

There are a few pictures showing this combination in the mediterranean theatre. Must be said that most pictures of V trops in that theater show standard length wings, and interestingly I've seen more pictures of planes with aboukir filters and clipped wings than of planes with vokes filter and clipped wings.

Now I'm not sure where my references on this are, but I seem to remember that some planes in that theatre also used a clipped wing that was slightly different from the standard one.

[gingerbob]

For the "classic" Malta period you're going to want full span tips. The clip-tip didn't really come in until at least the beginning of '43 or so, and perhaps mostly associated with LF.Vs.

bob

[Test Graham]

I can't think of any 1942 examples on Malta with clipped wings, but they they weren't having to cope with Fw190s so the roll rate wasn't a factor, and they weren't divebombing with 500lb bombs so overloading was no problem either. I think they were fairly uncommon outside of the UK: IRG not withstanding. The ones seen in the famous photo are described as having a different clip than the standardised one in the UK, so I suspect it was a theatre mod knowing that there were Fw190s in North Africa. That reason will depend upon the dates, of course. In 1942, Malta did not count as being in the same theatre as the North African units, being supplied with Spitfires from the UK/Gibraltar.

[Edgar]

The first genuine clipped-wing Squadron was in the U.K., and did not start working-up until November 1942, and trials and discussions went on well into 1943.

Malta Spitfires needed to gain height as quickly as possible, and the shortened wingtips would have slowed further the rate of climb in aircraft already hobbled by the desert filter. It was common for aircraft to head south, away from Sicily, while climbing, before turning back when (nearly?) enough height had been gained.

The first clipped wingtip appears to have been simply a shaped piece of wood, but, later, there were genuine wingtips, with the necessary light fittings, etc. The official modification was introduced 29-12-42, and, contrary to popular myth, it wasn't a matter of minutes to fit them; 8 hours were allowed for the work.

Edgar

Edited June 30, 2011 by Edgar