Spitfire fuel tanks

[Sreiko]

This image was taken after WW2 during the ferry of the Spitfires from CSSR over Yugoslavia to deliver to new Israel state. Note one interesting detail- Spitfire have German underwing fuel tanks.

[Wilks]

Would that Spitfire be able to fly with those extra tanks on??? it already has the normal 'slipper' tank on as it is.
Is that a Mk IX?

[Sreiko]

This is post war modification and I also think it is Mk. IX

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour mes amis

Following the arrangement of a contract in August, 1948, Spitfire IXs were supplied by Czechoslovakia to Israel. The intention had been to disassemble the aircraft to be transported by air, but, the complex political situation prevented such an eventuality. Desperate to make use of the Spitfire IXs, Israeli authorities arranged to have the aircraft flown from Czechoslovakia to Israel with but a single stop to refuel in Yugoslavia!

An endurance of about five hours was made possible by equipping the aircraft with extra oil capacity and with a standard auxiliary fuel tank as well as two auxiliary fuel tanks used by Avia S 199s.

Salut!
Kirk

[mike_baram]

I wonder if one of those Spits was the one flown by Ezer Weizman....the "Black Spitfire" is now in the IAF museum.



In the early days they bought anything they could fly...including....

[Sreiko]

Nice info

[mike_baram]

IAF museum

Click on the thumbnails for a larger picture....the text in blue above the shots links to (right to left) combat aircraft, transports, helicopters, and captured aircraft (only 2, unfortunately).

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Originally Posted by Sreiko

Bonjour encore Sreiko

You may wish to record for the files that the pilot depicted is Caesar Dangott who was an American, that had flown with the navy, who served with the Israeli forces as an instructor in Czecholslovakia and in action over Israel.

Relevant information about the Spitfire IX and Caesar Dangott may be found in Spitfires Over Israel by Cull, Aloni, Nicolle and Spitfire Star of Israel by Yofe.

Salut mon ami
Kirk

[Sreiko]

Yes Kirk- I do miss the info you have posted- thank you

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Originally Posted by mike_baram

I wonder if one of those was the one flown by Ezer Weizman ... the black Spitfire is now in the IAF museum.

Bonjour Mike et Sreiko

The "black Spitfire" is a Mark IXe, being, TE554, given the serial 20-57 by the Israeli Air Force. The aircraft was built in 1945 and delivered to the Royal Air Force in May then was issued to 310 (Czech) Squadron in August. The Spitfire served with Czech forces until sold.

20-57 was part of the I.A.F. inventory until 1955 when withdrawn to storage and, eventually, restoration. As noted the Spitfire was flown by, then, commanding officer of the force Ezer Weitzman. As recently as 1996 the aircraft was in airworthy condition which may well still be the case.

Most of the above information can be found in the publication Spitfire Sixty Fabulous Years! edited by Delve which contains a listing of airworthy examples of the type by Rudhall and an article entitled Combat over Sinai by Aloni.

Salut!
Kirk