Unarmed spitfire, 18 year old pilot, flying over Germany.

**bob10** · 26th February 2018, 06:23 PM

Photo reccy., I didn't know this.

SPITFIRE 944 - YouTube

**Gordie** · 26th February 2018, 06:27 PM

Never was so much owed by so many to so few

**87County** · 26th February 2018, 06:41 PM

best post you've ever made bob10, thanks

**donh54** · 26th February 2018, 06:47 PM

Brilliant documentary!

**Colmoore** · 26th February 2018, 09:01 PM

Thanks Bob, a very inspiring film. Quite astounding serendipity too!
And some say the Internet is a waste of time....

Cheers,
Col

**JDNSW** · 27th February 2018, 05:41 AM

I agree with the above sentiments. I wonder how much other amazing footage is stashed away in cupboards all round the world?

I for one was unaware that the US had ever flown Spitfires as reconnaissance aircraft, and for that matter unaware of that particular variant of the Spitfire. I wonder if it was an unauthorised unit modification?

Thanks for posting that.

**rick130** · 27th February 2018, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I agree with the above sentiments. I wonder how much other amazing footage is stashed away in cupboards all round the world?

I for one was unaware that the US had ever flown Spitfires as reconnaissance aircraft, and for that matter unaware of that particular variant of the Spitfire. I wonder if it was an unauthorised unit modification?

Thanks for posting that.

And, thanks to the extra tanks, they could fly you Berlin and back.

Amazing, and lovely seeing the reaction to the old footage.

**bob10** · 28th February 2018, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by 87County

best post you've ever made bob10, thanks

That's very kind of you, but these thoughts are very subjective, I believe. Personally, I prefer the post about the Bomber Command veterans , previous. Especially the diary of the W.A.G.. It would be interesting to compare total casualties in the PRU squadrons, as to Bomber Command. That would be a good indication of the danger faced, although they all have my respect.

**goingbush** · 15th March 2018, 08:36 PM

Fantastic indeed,

I'm building an R/C Spitfire , Now I know what livery I'm going to paint it & US 944 markings of course .

**JDNSW** · 15th March 2018, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by bob10

That's very kind of you, but these thoughts are very subjective, I believe. Personally, I prefer the post about the Bomber Command veterans , previous. Especially the diary of the W.A.G.. It would be interesting to compare total casualties in the PRU squadrons, as to Bomber Command. That would be a good indication of the danger faced, although they all have my respect.

I am pretty certain Bomber Command had a higher casualty rate than any other allied command, although individual squadrons may have had higher losses. Although I have not seen any figures on recon units, I suspect they were (relatively) not all that high, despite being unarmed - they usually flew very fast planes making them difficult targets for airborne interception, and while they often had to photograph heavily defended targets, again speed made them hard to hit.

The lack of armament would have made them generally a bit more slippery than their armed equivalents, and because of their small number, they would have been given special care in a number of aspects, from ensuring as near perfect maintenance as possible, to ensuring the pilots could navigate (lots of single pilot aircraft from all sides lost in WW2 because they got lost!).

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