General Background

The Mk. IX replaced the Mk. V in June 1942 and on September 12, 1942 a Mk. IX brought down a Ju-86R flying at 43,000 feet. Another major achievement of the Mk. IX took place on October 5, 1944 when 401 Squadron became the first allied aircraft to shoot down an Me-262 jet. Even with the arrival of the Griffon powered Mk. XIV the Mk. IX continued in service until the end of WWII. There were 5,665 Mk. IX Spitfires and its variants produced.

The Aircraft

In 1944 Spitfire Mk. IX PL258 was built in Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory and flown by 331 (Norwegian) Squadron’s Fenrik (Ensign) Carl Jacob Stousland. On December 29, 1944 the aircraft was on a reconnaissance flight over Germany when it collided with Spitfire PT909 piloted by Sergeant Ole Tilset. Stousland managed to make a belly landing near Tubbergen, Netherlands but the aircraft was a write-off. Dutch farmers hid Stousland and after 79 days managed to reach Allied lines but the Tilset was captured.

Specifications :

Number built :	5,665 all Mk. IX variants
Crew :	1 X pilot
Dimensions :
Length:	31 ft. 3.5 in.
Wingspan:
Standard (F)	36 ft. 10 in.
Clipped (LF)	32 ft. 2 in.
Height:	11 ft. 9 in.
Wing Area:	(F) 242 sq. ft. or (LF) 231 sq. ft.
Weight:
Empty:	5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg)
Maximum Takeoff:	7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg)
Performance:
Engine:	1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 @ 1,515 hp or
	1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 @ 1,712 hp
Maximum Speed:	408 mph (657 kph) @ 25,000 ft.
Service Ceiling:	4,000 ft.
Range w/o drop tank:	434 miles (698 km)
Armament:	2 X Hispano 20mm cannons
plus either	4 X .303 machine guns or
	2 X .50 machine guns
	1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing)