IN the Evening Press last June there was correspondence from readers as to whether, and to what extent, Spitfires had towed military gliders during the Second World War.
My e-mail to the editor did not reach its destination and I should be glad if you would let me, belatedly, to set the record straight.
To my knowledge, there were three instances of a Spitfire (Mk XIV) towing a Hotspur (Mk 111), (on September 2, 4 and 9, 1943).
The Spitfire was flown by Flight Lieutenant Plenkowitz of the Polish Air Force and the Hotspur by myself and an observer from our technical section. We flew from RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet, home of the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment from mid-1942 to the end of 1944.
It was not a happy combination. As was pointed in Mr Usherwood's letter (June 10, 2004), the lowest safe speed of the Spitfire, and the maximum allowable speed of the Hotspur, practically overlapped, while the Griffon engine fitted to the Mark XIV Spitfire tended to overheat at low speed.
Mr W J Edwards,
Malbys Grove
York.
Updated: 09:36 Thursday, July 14, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article