SAAF Spitfires + other aircraft,a personal album of 180 pics Italy '44-'45

The early VIIIs had the pointy wing tips, too.

Spitfire VIII.

VII

Hmm. I’m still of the opinion its a head on attack at a 109 Gustav with the edge of the supercharger scoop and oil cooler showing. But I’ll freely admit it it looks more and more like a clip winged Spit with a slipper tank the longer I look.

So you think this is a Messerschmitt?….. I don’t !

Have to agree here. That certainly looks like a Spit to me too. The centre of the prop looks a little to high for an inverted inline to me, and is that a slipper tank it has? The radiators look a little to big for a G series 109 too.

Still, if it is a Spit, wasn’t exactly an uncommon occurrence I suppose, and in the heat of combat, I’m not sure I would have got it right every time!

As far as the photographs are concerned, stunning, simply stunning. Atmospheric and a privilege to see them. So much detail and information to be seen, especially with the vehicles.

Regards;
Steve

Much Enjoyed thanks for posting.
Cheers Mike

Fantastic lot of images. Thanks for posting! 🙂

Brilliant collection of photographs and captions. What Mk spitfire are those with the very pointed wing tips?

Spitfire VIII.

In album 1, picture no 43 seems to show a no canopy and a very tall Spit pilot and also in pic 61 Spit call sign November doesn’t seem to have a canopy either!!! I have enlarged them but there is no sign of the distinctive forward angle of the canopy front frame. Was is unusual for Spits to fly deliberately with out a canopy? I have not seen this before.

Brilliant collection of photographs and captions. What Mk spitfire are those with the very pointed wing tips?

There are more combat photos on another page not linked before.

http://saafww2photographs.yolasite.com/labistour-italy-1944-45-album-4.php

Bf109. Late Gustav series looks like.

So you think this is a Messerschmitt?….. I don’t !

Superb photos, a privilege to see them, thankyou for sharing the links 😮

Oops! sorry about that.

The second gun camera photo (#8) is unmistakably a Spitfire……..oops!

Bf109. Late Gustav series looks like.

What SAAF squadron, wore the codes ZD ? In the first batch of pictures the Spitfire described as going for an air test is coded ZD-B, not MH434 is it?

It is coded DB-Z.

What SAAF squadron, wore the codes ZD ? In the first batch of pictures the Spitfire described as going for an air test is coded ZD-B, not MH434 is it?

The second gun camera photo (#8) is unmistakably a Spitfire……..oops!

That’s a stunning and wonderfully varied set, thanks a lot for posting. The images of the devastation at Cassino have to be seen to be believed.

Fantastic stuff, really captures the atmosphere.

It makes me wish that just for a season, one of the Spitfire operators would show one in really ‘ratty’ front-line condition, faded paint, scuffed to hell, oil stains, hand painted. It would really stand out from all the buffed show-room specimens.