History
Background
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk VC/trop was the subsequent variant after the Spitfire Mk VB. The Mk VC/trop retained Merlin 45 and introduced the Type-C or Universal wing and the revised main undercarriage. The aircraft with new wings could be fitted with either four cannon guns, two cannon guns & four machine guns, or eight machine guns. It was fitted with belly attachment lugs for a drop tank to increase its operating range.
The distinctive change was that the aircraft had a tropicalized modification large under-nose fairing over the Vokes Multi-Vee filter for the carburetor air intake. The lessened speed of the air to the supercharger decreased the performance of the aircraft, reducing the top speed by 8 mph (13 km/h) and the climb rate by 600 fpm (3.04 m/s). However, the decreased performance was considered acceptable when employing them in harsh desert environments. The Mk VC also had enlarged oil and radiator intakes for more effective cooling in tropical and desert climates.
As the threat of an invasion of England receded, the battle fronts became predominantly developed in the Mediterranean, where, by the spring of 1942, the defense of the island of Malta was becoming critical. The Spitfire Mk VC was the first aircraft to be sent overseas in large numbers to Malta and other bases in North Africa. Other Allied users also used them in Burma and Australia. Onboarding to Malta, the Mk VC was the first aircraft modified to carry bombs, which was able to bring one 250-lb bomb under each wing or one 500-lb bomb under the fuselage. The aircraft was widely used as a fighter-bomber and interceptor in the Mediterranean. The Mk VCs saw only limited combat over Europe, and they were outclassed by the Fw-190s until the arrival of the superior Mk IX.
The Mk V became the most numerous Spitfire variant, with more than 6,000 units produced and delivered, and the Mk V was eventually to equip more than 100 RAF squadrons and other foreign squadrons, including the American Fighter Squadrons of the USAAF.
North African Adventure
When the 31st and 52nd Fighter Groups of the US Army Air Forces had sailed from England, they left their Spitfire Mk VBs behind. The latest tropicalized Spitfire Mk VCs would be issued to the groups upon their arrival in Gibraltar. Some pilots from both groups had flown to Gibraltar from England to air test the Spitfires in preparation for their arrival. The groups formed as a part of the Twelfth Air Force that would oversee air operations in North Africa during Operation Torch.
The Torch landings around Oran and Algiers began early on November 8, 1942, and the 31st FG’s Spitfires headed for Oran from Gibraltar later that afternoon. As the aircraft approached the runway of Tafaraoui Airfield in Oran, the Spitfires got ambushed by four Vichy French Dewoitine D.520 fighters. One D.520 had shot down a Spitfire, killing its pilot. The Spitfires promptly set off in pursuit of the fleeing fighters and shot down two of four D.520s in the process.
The 52nd FG’s Spitfires flew into Oran over the next two days, settling at La Senia. Some Spitfires of the 52nd FG landed in Spanish Morocco due to the bad weather on route, where they would be temporarily interned. On November 30, during a sweep over Teboura, the 52nd FG claimed its first victories when Major James Coward and Lt. Warren each destroyed a Bf-109G. The Spitfires of 52nd FG fought numerous engagements over Tunisia during the next week. Later, they would damage and shoot down other enemy aircraft, Fw-190s, Bf-109Gs, Ju-87s, and Ju-88s.
The first pilot to become an ace flying the Spitfire in USAAF service was Captain Jimmie Peck of the 52nd FG, who claimed his fifth and last victory early on January 2, 1943, when he shot down an Fw-190 near Bone, Algeria, on defense patrols and interceptions.
During a major German counteroffensive in February 1943, the worst air-to-air engagement for the USAAF occurred on February 4 when the 12 Spitfires of the 52nd FG escorting ground-strafing P-39s were intercepted by German aircraft of II/JG2, taking down 3 of the Spitfires for no losses. At this time, Americans found themselves frequently outclassed by the flying of JG2 and JG77, sent to counter the North African invasion.
While the 31st FG settled in Oran, it moved quickly from base to base throughout Algeria and Tunisia, mostly engaging in ground attack missions and later escorting P-39s and A-20s on missions to ground attack German troop positions and convoys. During the German counteroffensive, the group found themselves bearing numerous losses as they attempted to stop the Afrika Korps from advancing beyond Kasserine and on to Thelepte, which had to be evacuated from Tunisia in short order, leaving a dozen unserviceable Spitfires behind.
The 31st FG retreated to Tebessa, Algeria, and the 52nd FG to Youks-le-Bains Airfield, Algeria. Later, the German offensive came to a halt, and by February 25, 1943, the Allies had regained control of Kasserine, forcing the Afrika Korps back towards Tunis.
Advance to Tunis
With the Afrika Korps in retreat, the American Spitfires of the 31st and 52nd FGs resumed their escort activities over the front. The 31st FG would follow its success over the next few weeks. However, casualties began to be inflicted on the groups as the Fw-190s and Bf-109Gs of the experienced II/JG 2 continued to terrorize the Spitfires and Allied aircraft. By March 21, 1943, the groups had adopted the more aggressive tactics of the RAF’s Western Desert Air Force. They would be able to counter the experienced German fighter wing. It worked when the 36 Spitfires of the 31st FG intercepted across 17 Ju-87D-3s of III/St.G.3, escorted by Bf-109s and Fw-190s of JG77 and JG2. The 307th Fighter Squadron of the 31st FG focused on pursuing the fighters, while the 309th Fighter Squadron of the 31st FG shot down four Ju-87s and claimed another four as probable for one loss. The following day, the 52nd FG claimed 5 Bf-109s, 2 Fw-190s, and 2 Ju-88s for one loss, a crash-landing due to the flak damage.
By April 1, 1943, the Allied ground forces broke through the lines, advancing towards Tunis. The FGs continuously flew escort, patrol, strafing, and reconnaissance missions to keep pressure on and defeat Axis forces in Tunisia and provide air cover for their Allied ground forces. They became very successful units in North Africa, as they tallied up more kill claims in shooting down the German aircraft, Fw-190, Bf-109, Ju-87, and Ju-88.
By April 20, 1943, the Allies had formed a complete ring around the Axis forces trapped against the sea. The war in Africa approached its end; however, much stubborn fighting in the mountains would have to continue to clear out pockets of resistance. The American Spitfires flew and bounced on any German aircraft attempting to evacuate from Tunisia to Sicily. The Spitfires had shot down several Bf-109Gs and Fw-190s as the German aircraft desperately jettisoned their long-range tanks and dived away for their lives.
May 6 became a very busy day for the Allied fighters, as, before dawn, the Allied ground forces launched a final major breach attack on Tunis. The Spitfires of the 31st FG saw some intensive action during ten sweeps that day around Tunis. They fought in various engagements, clashing with Bf-109Gs and Fw-190s for almost the rest of the day. That day, the 31st FG’s tally of 11 aircraft shot down had set a record in the North African theater for the most fighters destroyed by an American fighter group in a single day to date.
The Spitfires of the 52nd FG continued their sweeps on May 9 and claimed the shooting down of six Bf-109Gs. These were the final USAAF Spitfire victories of the North African campaign before all resistance ceased, and the last Axis forces finally surrendered in Africa on May 13, 1943. As a total, the 52nd FG claimed 86 victories, while the 31st FG claimed 61. Major Frank Hill of the 31st FG became the top US Spitfire ace of the war with 7 victories.
Shortly after the fall of Tunisia, the 52nd FG was transferred to the control of the North African Coastal Air Force for shipping protection and defensive duties.
Around this time, some Spitfire VIIs and IXs began to be issued to both USAAF groups. In August 1943, the 308th FS of the 31st FG became the first USAAF unit to operate the Spitfire Mk. VIII, and the group had some Mk. IXs were restricted to provide high cover for the Spitfires Mk VBs. Along with Spitfire VBs and VIIIs, the American Spitfire VCs saw their final missions consist mainly of sweeps over allied positions and escorting bombers attacking German positions in Sicily and Salerno before phaseout. Thus, it concluded the Spitfire Mk VC’s service with the USAAF.
