Griffon Spitfire Aces (Aircraft of the Aces No 81)

Andrew Thomas. 

Osprey, 2008. Soft cover

The iconic Spitfire underwent steady development throughout its service, with the most radical upgrade being the marrying of the airframe with the 2,000 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. The first variant fitted with this powerplant was the Mk XII of early 1943, followed soon after by the definitive Griffon-engined Spitfire, the Mk XIV. With a redesigned wing and five-bladed propeller, the Spitfire XIV became the best low-level fighter of World War 2. Seeeing considerable action during the anti-V1 campaign soon after D-Day, Griffon Spitfire Squadrons subsequently moved onto the Continent as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. Here, in the savage air combat over the shrinking Third Reich, they took a heavy toll on the Luftwaffe. Although the fighter entered service when there was a reduced cahance of encountering the Luftwaffe, 14 pilots gained at least five victories with Griffon-engined Spitfires, with another 13 aces claiming part of thier totals on the type. The aircraft also saw post-war service in India, the Far East, and in Palestine.