Supermarine Spitfire

Other operators

Apart from the RAF, Spitfires served with most of the Allied air forces in World War II, especially the Polish Air Force, Czechoslovak Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, South African Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was one of only a few foreign aircraft to see service with the United States Army Air Corps. Several European countries also operated Spitfires based in the UK, under the auspices of the RAF, including the Armée de l'Air as part of the Free French air force, the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (FAFL). (See Armée de l'Air (Part II).) In the Swedish Air Force the Spitfire was given the name S31 and it was in use up to 1955 when it was replaced by SAAB Tunnan. http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/31spitfi.htm

Related Topics:
Polish Air Force - Czechoslovak Air Force - Royal Canadian Air Force - Royal Australian Air Force - South African Air Force - Royal New Zealand Air Force - United States Army Air Corps - Armée de l'Air - Armée de l'Air (Part II) - Swedish Air Force - SAAB Tunnan

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Following World War II, the Spitfire remained in use with many air forces around the world, including the Egyptian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Irish Air Corps, Israeli Air Force, Syrian Air Force, Danish Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force and Turkish Air Force.

Related Topics:
Egyptian Air Force - Hellenic Air Force - Irish Air Corps - Israeli Air Force - Syrian Air Force - Danish Air Force - Royal Norwegian Air Force - Turkish Air Force

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Spitfires played a major role in the Greek Civil War, both flown by the RAF during 1944 and 1945, and by the Royal Hellenic Air Force from 1946 through the end of the war in 1948.

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Spitfires last saw major action during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when — in a strange twist — Israeli Spitfires were engaged by both British and Egyptian Spitfires.

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Some air forces retained Spitfires in service until well into the 1960s, while some pilots who flew Spitfires in World War II were able to remain in service for decades; for example, Flight Lieutenant "Joe" Kmiecki, a Polish pilot who flew Spitfires during the war, did not retire from the RAF until 1981.

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