High Speed Spitfire K9834

[matzos]

Short link to the reconnaissance theme, has anyone produced a model of the High Speed Spitfire?



Before the started of WW2, a Spitfire was being designed for an attempt on the World Air Speed Record. The modified aircraft, K9834, was known as the Speed Spitfire and first flew late 1938. Unfortunately, before an attempt on the record could be made, the Messerschmitt Me 209 raised the record beyond the reach of a modified Spitfire.



When the war did start, this aircraft was converted to usable operational condition by fitting a Merlin XII engine with a three bladed airscrew.
Because of work needed to change it to the fighter version, it was fitted with an oblique facing F.24 camera on the port side and was then sent to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Heston, then to RAF Benson when the Unit moved. It only carried out one operational reconnaissance mission. Because having only a 60 gallon fuel tank (designed for its record attempt) it did not have the range require for reconnaissance work. So it remained in service as a high speed run around until 1946

[Stargazer]

Aeroclub do a 1/72 conversion.
It was available the last time I looked

Andy.

[popeye]

Always fascinating that such tidbits can still be found and better yet if made available.

Thanks Matzos !

Rolf

[kitspackman]

My Dad was with 541 Sqdn. at Benson, and later at St. Eval, when K9834 was on charge with the Squadron.

Normally only the OC was allowed to fly it (on pain of death!) but I never did manage to find out if he flew the only op. It seems the aircraft even flew with the gold stripes still in place!

[edgar]

There was an article on producing K9834 as the PR3, in Scale Models, January 1985.
Edgar

[MikeC]

Come a bit late to this debate, I'm currently researching this aircraft as I'm building it in its 106 Gp Hack guise.

According to "Spitfire in Combat" (Alfred Price) it was Wg Cdr (later AM Sir) Geoffrey Tuttle who flew the one and only PR mission - the book includes a short quote which describes how he emerged from cloud on a parallel course to a He 111 - the consequent evasive action was short, but used enough fuel to cause the mission to be abandoned.

This also states that it was a general unit hack until Air Cdre Boothman adopted it in mid-1943 - I assume that he is the CO Kit is referring to above?

[vonshagmeister]

K9834 was used as the personal mount of o/c 1 PRU and later o/c 106 (PR) Wg when 1 PRU was disbanded, though it was often flown by other pilots.

There is nothing mentioned in the PRU ORB about Tuttle flying an operational sortie in K9834 (or that K9834 ever flew operationally). He did flew an operational sortie in N3117 on 03 Jul 40 where he encountered a Do 17 in cloud at 500'. The mission had already been abandoned due to 10/10 cloud from sea level to 500'.

[MikeC]

Whether the sortie is in the ORB or not, the interview quoted was with Tuttle himself, so I for one am inclined to give it some credence. It's also stated elsewhere that the original intent was for K9834 to be used for ops, but the short range was demonstrated on one, and only one, trip.

[vonshagmeister]

I'm not saying Tuttle didn't flew an op in K9834 merely what the ORB states. ORBs are not infallible and the PRU ORB is no exception. He is recorded as flying three operational sorties and his sortie of 03 Jul 40 most closely matches the encounter with an enemy aircraft as you quote from "Spitfire in Combat".

I wonder if Tuttle's logbook is extant?

[MikeC]

Jan 23, 2013 9:17:01 GMT vonshagmeister said:

I'm not saying Tuttle didn't flew an op in K9834 merely what the ORB states. ORBs are not infallible and the PRU ORB is no exception...

Indeed, that's how I read your post, apologies if my wording led you to believe otherwise.