List of Supermarine Spitfire operators

This is a list of operators of the Supermarine Spitfire.

Operators

 Australia

The Spitfire Mk VIII "Grey Nurse" which saw action with No. 457 Squadron RAAF in the South West Pacific Area is one of two Spitfires still flying in Australia, both owned by Temora Aviation Museum.

Royal Australian Air Force

• No. 79 Squadron RAAF 1943–45
• No. 85 Squadron RAAF 1943–45
• No. 451 Squadron RAAF 1943–46
• No. 452 Squadron RAAF 1941–45
• No. 453 Squadron RAAF 1942–46
• No. 457 Squadron RAAF 1941–42 1942–45

Royal Australian Navy

 Belgium

Belgian Spitfire exhibited in Royal Military Museum in Brussels

Belgian Air Force

• No. 349 Squadron RAF 1943–45 1945–46
• No. 350 Squadron RAF 1941–46

 Burma

Burma Air Force

 Canada

Spitfire F. MK XIV of 402(RCAF) squadron

Royal Canadian Air Force

• No. 400 Squadron RCAF
• No. 401 Squadron RCAF 1941–45
• No. 402 Squadron RCAF 1942–45
• No. 403 Squadron RCAF 1941–45
• No. 411 Squadron RCAF 1941–46
• No. 412 Squadron RCAF 1941–45
• No. 414 Squadron RCAF 1943–45
• No. 416 Squadron RCAF
• No. 417 Squadron RCAF
• No. 421 Squadron RCAF 1943–45
• No. 430 Squadron RCAF
• No. 441 Squadron RCAF 1944–45
• No. 442 Squadron RCAF
• No. 443 Squadron RCAF 1944–46
• No. 13 Squadron RCAF

Royal Canadian Navy

 Republic of China

Republic of China Air Force

 Czechoslovakia

Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX C

Czech Air Force in exile in Great Britain

• No. 310 Squadron RAF 1941–46
• No. 312 Squadron RAF 1941–46
• No. 313 Squadron RAF 1941–45

Czechoslovakian Air Force

Czechoslovakian National Security Guard

 Denmark

Danish Spitfire in Stauning Aircraft Museum

Royal Danish Air Force

38 Supermarine HF MK IX E were in service from 1947 – 1955 as day fighters. 3 Supermarine PR MK XI was in service from 1947 – 1955 in a photo reconnaissance role.^[1]

 Egypt

Royal Egyptian Air Force

In the immediate post-war period a large number of Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXs were acquired.

 France

Seen here in a very short lived Free French Air Force colour scheme

Free French Air Force

• No. 326 Squadron 1943–45
• No. 327 Squadron
• No. 328 Squadron
• No. 329 Squadron 1944–45
• No. 340 Squadron 1941–45
• No. 341 Squadron 1943–45
• No. 345 Squadron 1944–45

Armee de l'Air

Aviation Navale

 Germany

Luftwaffe captured several Spitfires and used them to test, and for operational training duties.

Luftwaffe

• 2./Versuchsverband ObdL
• KG 200

 Greece

Royal Hellenic Air Force

• No. 335 Squadron RAF
• No. 336 Squadron RAF

 Hong Kong

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

RAF at RAF Kai Tak

• No. 80 Squadron RAF
• No. 81 Squadron RAF 1943–54
• No. 132 Squadron RAF 1941–46
• No. 681 Squadron RAF 1943–46

RAF at RAF Sek Kong

• No. 80 Squadron RAF

 India

Indian Air Force Supermarine Spitfire at Air Force Museum, Palam, Delhi

Indian Air Force^[2]

• No.1 Squadron, IAF
• No.2 Squadron, IAF
• No.3 Squadron, IAF
• No.4 Squadron, IAF
• No.6 Squadron, IAF
• No.7 Squadron, IAF
• No.8 Squadron, IAF
• No.9 Squadron, IAF
• No.10 Squadron, IAF
• No.12 Squadron, IAF
• No.14 Squadron, IAF
• No.15 Squadron, IAF
• No.16 Squadron, IAF
• No.101 Squadron, IAF
• No.1 Service Flying and Training School, Ambala
• Conversion Training Unit IAF

 Indonesia

Indonesian Air Force

 Ireland

In the late 1940s Irish Air Force purchased some Spitfires, in its de-navalised Seafire model, and were at once very popular with the crews. This prompted the purchase of the two-seat trainer version, the Spitfire T9, which served between 1951 and 1961.

Supermarine Spitfire T.9 163 of the Irish Air Corps at Baldonnel (Casement) airfield in 1967

Irish Air Corps

• No 1. Fighter Squadron
• Air Corps Training Wing

 Israel

Spitfire IX at Muzeyon Heyl ha-Avir, Hatzerim airbase, Israel

Israel bought their Spitfire LF IXc from Czechoslovakia in 1948. In 1952 an additional 35 LF IXc/e aircraft were purchased from Italy, at which time the Spitfire in IDF service was known as "Yorek" (Eng. Spit). After a few years of operational use and major action during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War these Spitfires were sold to Burma.

Israeli Air Force

• 101 Squadron
• 105 Squadron
• 107 Squadron

 Italy

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX operated by the Italian Air Force in the very last period of WWII

Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force operated 53 aircraft from 1943^[3]

Aeronautica Militare Italiana operated 137 aircraft from 1946 until 1952^[4]

 Netherlands

Ex 322 Squadron (RAF) & H-8 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

Royal Netherlands Air Force

• No. 322 Squadron RAF

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force – Postwar

 New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Air Force

• No. 485 Squadron RNZAF
• No. 486 Squadron RNZAF (486 Squadron was officially equipped with the Hawker Tempest. In September 1945 they handed their aircraft over to ex-Spitfire unit No. 41 Squadron RAF. They then picked up some Spitfire XVIs from No. 416 Squadron RCAF and ferried them to England.)

 Norway

Norwegian Air Force Spitefire

Royal Norwegian Air Force

• No. 331 Squadron RAF
• No. 332 Squadron RAF
• Photo Reconnaissance Wing No. 1

 Pakistan

Royal Pakistan Air Force

 Poland

Polish Spitfire Mk V from the 303 Kościuszko Squadron flown by S/Ldr Zumbach

Polish Air Forces in exile in Great Britain^[5]

• 302 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Poznański"
• 303 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Warszawski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki"
• 306 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Toruński"
• 308 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Krakowski"
• 309 Dywizjon Współpracy Ziemi Czerwieńskiej
• 315 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Dębliński"
• 316 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Warszawski"
• 317 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Wileński"
• 318 Dywizjon Myśliwsko-Rozpoznawczy "Gdański"
• Polski Zespół Myśliwski (also known as Skalski's Circus)

 Portugal

Supermarine Spitfire in the Museu do Ar

Portuguese Air Force

 Southern Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesian Air Force

• No. 1 Squadron
• No. 2 Squadron

 South Africa

South African Air Force

 Soviet Union

Line of the Spitfire VBs ready for delivery to the Soviet VVS

The Soviet Union ran into immediate problems with friendly fire at the introduction of the Lend-Lease Spitfire Mk. Vb to combat operations. Deadly anti-aircraft artillery fire and neighboring VVS fighters took their toll. The problem was that the Spitfire too closely resembled the enemy's Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft. Making Spitfire unit markings more prominent didn't help (the 57th already displayed a yellow lightning bolt down the entire side of their fuselages), and the aircraft type was withdrawn from combat duties after only three months of service as part of defensive operations in the Kuban sector.^[6][7]

Soviet Air Force

• 57th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (April–June 1943)
• 821st Fighter Aviation Regiment (April–June 1943)

 Sweden

Supermarine Spitfire XIX at the Swedish Air Force Museum

Soon after the end of the Second World War, the Swedish Air Force equipped a photo reconnaissance wing, F 11 in Nyköping (just south of Stockholm), with 50 Mk XIXs, designated S 31.^[8] Several S 31 photographic missions in the late 1940s entailed flagrant violations of Soviet – and, at least once, Finnish – airspace in order to document activities at the air and naval installations in the Baltic and Kola regions. At that time, no Soviet fighter was able to reach the operational altitude of the S 31. No Swedish planes were lost during those clandestine operations. However, by the early 1950s, Soviet air defenses had become so effective that such practices had to cease.^[9] The S 31s were replaced by jet-powered SAAB S 29Cs in the mid-1950s.

Swedish Air Force

• F 11 photo reconnaissance wing

 Syria

A derelict Syrian Spitfire at an unknown location.

Syrian Air Force

 Thailand

Supermarine Spitfire XIVe at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Royal Thai Air Force

• 1st Wing RTAF
  • 1st Squadron RTAF
• 4th Wing RTAF
  • 41st Squadron (earlier called 1st Squadron, today is 401st Squadron.)

 Turkey

Turkish Air Force

 United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

• No. 1 Squadron RAF
• No. 2 Squadron RAF
• No. 4 Squadron RAF
• No. 5 Squadron RAF
• No. 6 Squadron RAF
• No. 11 Squadron RAF
• No. 16 Squadron RAF
• No. 17 Squadron RAF
• No. 19 Squadron RAF
• No. 20 Squadron RAF
• No. 26 Squadron RAF
• No. 28 Squadron RAF
• No. 32 Squadron RAF
• No. 33 Squadron RAF
• No. 34 Squadron RAF
• No. 41 Squadron RAF
• No. 43 Squadron RAF
• No. 54 Squadron RAF
• No. 56 Squadron RAF
• No. 58 Squadron RAF
• No. 60 Squadron RAF
• No. 63 Squadron RAF
• No. 64 Squadron RAF
• No. 65 Squadron RAF
• No. 66 Squadron RAF
• No. 67 Squadron RAF
• No. 69 Squadron RAF
• No. 71 Squadron RAF
• No. 72 Squadron RAF
• No. 73 Squadron RAF
• No. 74 Squadron RAF
• No. 80 Squadron RAF
• No. 81 Squadron RAF
• No. 82 Squadron RAF
• No. 87 Squadron RAF
• No. 91 Squadron RAF
• No. 92 Squadron RAF
• No. 93 Squadron RAF
• No. 94 Squadron RAF
• No. 111 Squadron RAF
• No. 118 Squadron RAF
• No. 121 Squadron RAF
• No. 122 Squadron RAF
• No. 123 Squadron RAF
• No. 124 Squadron RAF
• No. 126 Squadron RAF
• No. 127 Squadron RAF
• No. 129 Squadron RAF
• No. 130 Squadron RAF
• No. 131 Squadron RAF
• No. 132 Squadron RAF
• No. 133 Squadron RAF
• No. 134 Squadron RAF
• No. 136 Squadron RAF
• No. 137 Squadron RAF
• No. 140 Squadron RAF
• No. 145 Squadron RAF
• No. 152 Squadron RAF
• No. 153 Squadron RAF
• No. 154 Squadron RAF
• No. 155 Squadron RAF
• No. 164 Squadron RAF
• No. 165 Squadron RAF
• No. 167 Squadron RAF
• No. 183 Squadron RAF
• No. 184 Squadron RAF
• No. 185 Squadron RAF
• No. 186 Squadron RAF
• No. 208 Squadron RAF
• No. 213 Squadron RAF
• No. 222 Squadron RAF
• No. 225 Squadron RAF
• No. 229 Squadron RAF
• No. 232 Squadron RAF
• No. 234 Squadron RAF
• No. 237 Squadron RAF
• No. 238 Squadron RAF
• No. 241 Squadron RAF
• No. 242 Squadron RAF
• No. 243 Squadron RAF
• No. 249 Squadron RAF
• No. 253 Squadron RAF
• No. 256 Squadron RAF
• No. 257 Squadron RAF
• No. 266 Squadron RAF
• No. 268 Squadron RAF
• No. 269 Squadron RAF
• No. 273 Squadron RAF
• No. 274 Squadron RAF
• No. 275 Squadron RAF
• No. 276 Squadron RAF
• No. 277 Squadron RAF
• No. 278 Squadron RAF
• No. 283 Squadron RAF
• No. 287 Squadron RAF
• No. 288 Squadron RAF
• No. 289 Squadron RAF
• No. 290 Squadron RAF
• No. 501 Squadron RAF
• No. 502 Squadron RAF
• No. 504 Squadron RAF
• No. 518 Squadron RAF
• No. 519 Squadron RAF
• No. 520 Squadron RAF
• No. 521 Squadron RAF
• No. 527 Squadron RAF
• No. 541 Squadron RAF
• No. 542 Squadron RAF
• No. 543 Squadron RAF
• No. 544 Squadron RAF
• No. 545 Squadron RAF
• No. 548 Squadron RAF
• No. 549 Squadron RAF
• No. 567 Squadron RAF
• No. 577 Squadron RAF
• No. 587 Squadron RAF
• No. 595 Squadron RAF
• No. 600 Squadron RAF
• No. 601 Squadron RAF
• No. 602 Squadron RAF
• No. 603 Squadron RAF
• No. 604 Squadron RAF
• No. 607 Squadron RAF
• No. 608 Squadron RAF
• No. 609 Squadron RAF
• No. 610 Squadron RAF
• No. 611 Squadron RAF
• No. 612 Squadron RAF
• No. 613 Squadron RAF
• No. 614 Squadron RAF
• No. 615 Squadron RAF
• No. 616 Squadron RAF
• No. 631 Squadron RAF
• No. 667 Squadron RAF
• No. 680 Squadron RAF
• No. 681 Squadron RAF
• No. 682 Squadron RAF
• No. 683 Squadron RAF
• No. 684 Squadron RAF
• No. 691 Squadron RAF
• No. 695 Squadron RAF
• No. 1435 Squadron RAF

Fleet Air Arm

 United States

American Spitfire

The Spitfire was one of only a few foreign aircraft to see service with the USAAF, equipping four groups in England and the Mediterranean. Spitfires were briefly flown by the US Navy after the Normandy landings to support cruisers and battleships bombarding land targets

United States Army Air Forces

• 4th Fighter Group
  • 334th Fighter Squadron 1941–43
  • 335th Fighter Squadron 1942–43
  • 336th Fighter Squadron 1942–43
• 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
  • 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 1943
  • 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 1943–45
• 31st Fighter Group
  • 2d Fighter Squadron
  • 4th Fighter Squadron
  • 5th Fighter Squadron
• 52d Fighter Group
  • 307th Fighter Squadron
  • 308th Fighter Squadron
  • 309th Fighter Squadron

United States Navy

• Cruiser Scouting Squadron Seven (VCS-7)^[10]

 Yugoslavia

Spitfire Mk VC Trop in Belgrade Aviation Museum

Yugoslav Squadrons in the RAF

• No. 352 Squadron RAF

SFR Yugoslav Air Force

• 1st Fighter Regiment (1945)
• Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (1947–1948)
• 103rd Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (1948–1951)
• Liaison Squadron of 3rd Aviation Corps (1950–1952)

Notes

1. Schrøder, Hans (1991). "Royal Danish Airforce". Ed. Kay S. Nielsen. Tøjhusmuseet, 1991, p. 1–64. ISBN 87-89022-24-6.
2. Singh, Polly, ""Lord, let Thy servant go in peace now"", IAF History Aircraft: Spitfire, Bharat Rakshak.
3. aeroflight
4. aeroflight
5. List of Spitfire I and II aircraft used by Polish Air Force squadrons (PDF file)
6. Lend-lease on airforce.ru. (2006) Spitfires over the Kuban Igor Zlobin. Translation by James F. Gebhardt
7. Hardesty, Von (1991) [1982]. "Barbarossa to Berlin: A Summing Up". Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941–1945. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. p. 225. ISBN 0-87474-510-1.
8. Glancey, Jonathan. Spitfire: The Illustrated Biography. ISBN 9780857895103.
9. Bortom Horisonten : Svensk Flygspaning mot Sovjetunionen 1946–1952 by Andersson, Lennart, Hellström, Leif
10. Mersky, Peter (1986). "Naval Aviators in Spitfires". Proceedings (United States Naval Institute) 112 (12): 105&106.

References

• Lopes, Mário Canongia. Spitfires e Hurricanes em Portugal (Bilingual Portuguese/English). Lisboa, Portugal: Dinalivro, 1993. ISBN 978-972-576-065-9.