Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV
The first Griffon 60-series fighter — five blades, 2,050 hp and a V-1 hunter · First flight 1943 · In service 1943
The Mk XIV paired the big two-stage Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 of 2,050 hp with a strengthened Mk VIII airframe, a five-blade propeller and an enlarged fin. Six Mk VIIIs converted with Griffon 60-series engines first flew in January 1943; Jeffrey Quill flew the first production Mk XIV, RB140, in October 1943, and the type entered service with No. 610 Squadron in December 1943.
Its first major task in 1944 was intercepting V-1 flying bombs over southern England, a role in which it was the most successful Spitfire mark. It then flew over north-west Europe with the 2nd Tactical Air Force. 957 were built, more than 430 of them as FR Mk XIVs with an oblique camera and, on many, a cut-down rear fuselage and bubble canopy.
After the war Mk XIVs served with several air forces including those of Belgium, India and Thailand. Airworthy examples include MV268 (G-SPIT) in the UK and RM927, displayed in post-war Belgian markings.
