Squadrons! No 14

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII in the Southwest Pacific
The British

Phileditions

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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Designed before the Mk. IX, but following it into service because its radical design changes would have meant production delays when time was of the essence, the Spitfire Mk.Vlll was in fact a non-pressurised version of the Mk. VII designed for low altitude combat (see SQUADRONS! No.6). At the outset it was the designated successor to the Mk. V, the replacement of which was planned from 1943 onwards but when it became available the Mk. IX had recently entered service with Fighter Command and appeared to have a bright future. Therefore, the RAF decided to retain the Mk. VIII for overseas theatres - the Mediterranean, Far East and the Pacific - where the replacement of the Spitfire Mk. V had become a necessity. One fourth of the production will reach the Southwest Pacific.

Source: RAF-IN-COMBAT.com

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It is a good thing to have a publication dedicated to the RAF’s use of this Spitfire variant; and seemingly, from ‘The British’ adjunct to the title, we may expect a volume dealing with other nations’ use of the Mk.VIII.

This is the fourteenth in a series from Phileditions, all of which follow a similar format; in this case this being:

• Glossary – Personnel, Ranks, Other, and Fighter Command Offensive Operation Codenames.

• The Spitfire Mk.VIII – Brief development history and production serial numbers.

• Squadron Usage – Preceded by a brief background history The 1st Wing, RAAF. Operational accounts, claims and summaries of aircraft lost on operations and to accidents. Covering Nos. 54, 548 & 549 Squadrons.

• In Memoriam – Pilots killed flying the Spitfire Mk.VIII.

The book features 30+ photographs, most good, featuring the Spitfire Mk.VIII, and several with just aircrew. At the end are six nicely rendered full-page colour profiles. 

The book is available in four formats; printed paperback, or in three digital formats downloadable from the publisher and others. The printed example’s quality of production is good, although on matt paper. I cannot comment on the appearance of the digital formats.

This series is quite specialized in nature with its focus firmly on squadron usage - hardly surprising given the series’ title! The booklet gives a good insight into the Spitfire Mk.VIII’s British service in the Southwest Pacific, as well as interesting accounts of the operational experiences of those who flew it. I recommend it to Spitfire aficionados.

Thanks to RAF-In-Combat.com for the review samples.

Review Copyright © 2016 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 12 August, 2016
Last updated 12 August, 2016

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