US Army Air Forces Spitfires ~ for Rob & Neil by bmac62

Photography • Aviation • posted on Jul 07, 2010

Open full image in new tab Zoom on image

Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.

Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.

Description

For Rob (debbielove) and Neil (neiwil) who will spend this coming weekend at the best airshow in Europe (Flying Legends). The featured WWII British fighter will be the Spitfire. At least ten of them...:) Few Americans know that the US Army Air Forces (later US Air Force) flew Spitfires during WWII too. Here, in the US Air Force Museum, is a Supermarine Spitfire PR. Mark XI employed by the 14th Photographic Squadron of the Eighth Air Force. These were flown by the US from November 1943 to April 1945. The PR. Mark XI was essentially a Mark IX Spitfire interceptor modified for photo recon with cameras, a more powerful engine, and a larger oil tank in the nose. All guns and armor were removed and the fuel capacity was greatly increased; speed was the unarmed Mark XI's defense. Have fun you guys!!! Bill:) Yet more details for those of you that are interested: Click Here "Softy"

Comments (33)

)

bimm3d

11:46PM | Wed, 07 July 2010

great photo and info!!

)

auntietk

11:47PM | Wed, 07 July 2010

Great images! I'm totally shocked that you found this plane in that museum! LOL! Okay ... truthfully, I'm just looking for props and pitot tubes. :P I didn't click the link. Very spiffy plane! :D

)

Faemike55

11:50PM | Wed, 07 July 2010

Fantastic shot! It looks swift!

)

brycek

12:18AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Fantastic captures!!

)

beachzz

1:03AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Do I detect just a note of wistfulness that you won't get to be going to this air show?? Great shots, I love the light you always get here!!

)

prutzworks

1:49AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

nice shots and interesting info

)

durleybeachbum

2:15AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

These planes are interesting to me because they are human scale..and I even knew one or two old boy colleagues who had flown in them and survived.

)

blinkings

2:43AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

And ME!!! I love Spitfires too!!!!!!!

)

bazza

2:59AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Great captures Bill, These look beautiful, very well done!! Thanks for your visit to my galley and your comments!!

)

jayfar

3:13AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

I didn't know that either Bill. These are fab shots.

)

neiwil

3:20AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Thanks Bill, you know we love Spitfires :-) I like the colour of this, we used photo reccon Spits but painted them 'pink'? Great collage and sharp detail in the zoom.( This would make a great additional texture for my Spitfire model....where's my paintbox!).

)

drace68

3:37AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Great find and photo-captures.

)

Meisiekind

4:56AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

My technical knowledge is zero on any plane and I am not interested enough to learn!! This one however has a sexiness to it... If you know what I mean - almost an attitude... great collage Bill!

)

Emil-arts

5:45AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

This is a real treat Bill. How unusual it this, i've never seen one in these markings before or so stripped down for speed. I sense a texture from Neil coming on.

)

DAVER2112

6:32AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Very cool plane. Excellent captures. :)

)

debbielove

8:30AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Great work Bill.. Yep, you did indeed use them right through the war, basically coz there was nothing faster! And it was ....very! Extremely popular with its pilots, both U.S. and RAF (and others).. Great looking shots.. The U.S. also used, Beaufighters, and Mosquitos ...same reasons.. Nothing better! Looks great in blue...never really took to the pink but hey it worked!! Thanks for the shout, mate! Rob

)

helanker

8:52AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Excellent shots all three, Bill. Beautiful little planes.

)

flavia49

8:54AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

fabulous shots!!

)

cfulton

10:19AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

A history lesson for me! Well done Bill, Clive

)

Sea_Dog

10:45AM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Great shots and some interesting historical information.

)

RodS

12:24PM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Ooooo! Nice shot of a really beautiful Spit, Bill! Well done! And I think I see a 'jug' in the background, too! I'd love to tour this place!

)

dbrv6

1:30PM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Very cool capture - not seen this paint scheme before.

)

sandra46

4:42PM | Thu, 08 July 2010

wonderful old air warriors

)

goodoleboy

7:04PM | Thu, 08 July 2010

Cool clarity, composition and lighting in these shots, Bill. Other than the volunteer American pilots of the International Squadron who flew for the British before America officially entered the war, I never knew that the United States Army Air Corps flew Supermarine Spitfires.

)