Canadian Warplanes 5: Supermarine Seafire

Supermarine Seafire

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5067023)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR434), 803 Squadron, HMCS Warrior.

RCN Supermarine Seafires

The Supermarine Seafire was a naval version of the Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers.  The RCN acquired 35 Seafire post-War.  Canada's Seafire Mk. XVs were flown from HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Warrior before being replaced by Hawker Sea Furies in 1948.

Supermarine Type 377 Seafire Mk. XV (35), (Serial Nos. PR375, PR410, PR425, PR428, PR434, PR451, PR458, PR460, PR461, PR470, PR479, PR494, PR496, PR498, PR499, PR500, PR501, PR502, PR503, PR504. PR506, SR459, SR464, SR530, SR545, SW793, SW802, SW809, SW815, SW860, SW869, SW870, SW909).

(RCN Photo via Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR470), coded F, Downsview, 1946.

(RCN Photo via Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR491), coded Z, Downsview, 1946.

(RCN Photo via Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR434), coded N, Downsview, 1946.

(RCN Photo via Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR434), coded AA-J.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205207)

RCN Supermarine Seafires with a Fairey Firefly, over McNab's Island and the entrance to Halifax Harbour, 25 November 1947. Seafire (Serial No. PR451), coded P (top) flying in No. 803 Squadron. PR451 would eventually fly with No. 883 Squadron coded as VG-AA-J, and it survives today in the Military Museums, Calgary.

(RCN Photo via Fred Paradie)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR460). The VG code says the was taken between May 1947 and the 19 November 1951.   25February190 there were only four Seafires still on strength with the Royal Canadian Navy. Seafire Mk. XV s/n PR460 was struck off strength at Fairey Aviation of Canada Limited (formerly Clarke Ruse) at Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia.  The Seafire is resting on a pair of skis joined together front and back with a tow bar attached to the front. Probably for moving the aircraft around in the snow.

The Supermarine Seafire was a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. It was analogous in concept to the Hawker Sea Hurricane, a navalised version of the Spitfire's stablemate, the Hawker Hurricane. The name Seafire was derived from the abbreviation of the longer name Sea Spitfire.

The idea of adopting a navalised carrier-capable version of the Supermarine Spitfire had been mooted by the Admiralty as early as May 1938. Despite a pressing need to replace various types of obsolete aircraft that were still in operation with the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), some opposed the notion, such as Winston Churchill, although these disputes were often a result of an overriding priority being placed on maximizing production of land-based Spitfires instead. During 1941 and early 1942, the concept was again pushed for by the Admiralty, culminating in an initial batch of Seafire Mk Ib fighters being provided in late 1941, which were mainly used for pilots to gain experience operating the type at sea. While there were concerns over the low strength of its undercarriage, which had not been strengthened like many naval aircraft would have been, its performance was found to be acceptable.

The Royal Canadian Navy and French Aviation Navale also obtained Seafires to operate from ex-Royal Navy aircraft carriers following the end of the Second World War. Canada's Seafire Mk XVs were flown from HMCS Magnificent and HMS Warrior before being replaced by Sea Furies in 1948. (Wikipedia)

RCAF On Strength (35), Canadian Aircraft Losses (5). Detailed records of all known RCAF and Canadian aviation losses may be viewed on line in the Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource(CASPIR). The CASPIR website is researched, coded, maintained entirely by Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) volunteers with only one staff assisting periodically. This work has taken several years and is unlikely to be finished as continuing research leads to “new finds” and rediscovered Canadian aviation heritage and history. The CWHM volunteer team looks forward to continuing to update and correct the record as additional information and photos are received. Check here.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205205)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No.  PR479), coded AA-B, being towed to the taxiway at RCAF Station Rivers, Manitoba, 10 Sep 1948.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3205204)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No.  PR479), coded AA-B, taking off at RCAF Station Rivers, Manitoba, 10 Sep 1948.

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(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3208579), (DND Photo, DNS-399, Dartmouth Naval Station)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR461), with (Serial No. PR504) next and (Serial No. 508) at the far end, 19 June 1948.

(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial Nos. PR461, PR479, PR434), No. 883 Squadron, and a Fairey Firefly. Possibly another Seafire running behind PR461.

(A Gibbons Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Supermarine Seafire, RCN (Serial No. PR498).

(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR500).

(RCN Photo via James Craik)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR548).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584065)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR494), with silver spinner.  This aircraft was used for cold-weather testing, Armstrong, Ontario, 21 May  1947.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3584064)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR494), with silver spinner.  This aircraft was used for cold-weather testing, Armstrong, Ontario, 21 May  1947.

(RCN Photo)

Supermarine Type 377 Seafire Mk. XV, RCN.

(Wilma Bearman Photo via Don Smith)

Supermarine Type 377 Seafire Mk. XV (Serial No. SW802).

(Author Photo)

(Author Photo)

(Author Photo)

Supermarine 377 Seafire Mk. XV (Serial No. PR451), TG-B,at HMCS Tecumseh, ca. 1977, before being restored and moved indoors.

(Author Photo)

(Author Photo)

Supermarine 377 Seafire Mk. XV (Serial No. PR451), TG-B.  Naval Museum of Alberta, the Military Museums, Calgary, Alberta.

(Robert Le Pine Photo)

Supermarine 377 Seafire Mk. XV (Serial No. PR451), TG-B.  Naval Museum of Alberta, the Military Museums, Calgary, Alberta.

(Author Photo)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV project.  Michael Potter, Vintage Wings of Canada, Gatineau, Quebec.

(Dave Miller Photos)

Supermarine Seafire F Mk. XV, RN (Serial No. PR503), Reg. No. N503PR. Owned by Wes Stricker and based at Columbia, Missouri.  Potentially airworthy but not flown for some time.  She wears the codes PR503 / -K to replicate the markings she wore whilst serving with Royal Canadian Navy No. 803 Squadron, from 7 Dec 1945 to RCN.  To a private owner in Hamilton Ontario, Reg. No. C-GCWK, now in Missouri.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950856)

A number of Canadian pilots flew with the Fleet Air Arm, most notably Lt (N) Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSO. I found this shot in the Archives of a line-up of Fleet Air Arm aircraft at RNAS Mill Meece, HMS Fledgling ca 1943/44.  The facility was used to train WRNS Air Mechanics (Ordnance) on FAA aircraft. The aircraft in this photo include a Supermarine Seafire Mk. I, a Chance Vought Corsair, a Grumman Martlet, two Fairey Barracudas, and possibly a Hawker Sea Hurricane or Fairey Fulmar.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3239462)

The Royal Canadian Navy mustered a Seafire formation team in the late 1940s.  Black Flight of the Seafire Exhibition Team - five pilots from HMCS Shearwater, Nova Scotia, line up in front of an RCN Supermarine Seafire.  Left to Right: Acting Lieutenant-Commander W.O. Munro, Lieutenant M.E. Wasteneys, Lieutenant J.P. Whitby, Lieutenant J.B. Hartle and Lieutenant E.A. Myers, 17 Aug 1949.

Seafires of the RCN exhibition team warming up at de Havilland Canada's Downsview facility prior to a show there in September of 1949 - the first Canadian International Air Show.  DeHavilland employees, in white coveralls, assist Navy ratings.  (Photo via Ron Beard Collection)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3204132)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, coded TG, being checked and fueled by RCN seamen . This was one of several designated to take part in activities at the exhibition at Toronto, Ontario, at the Royal Canadian Navy Air Station, 28 July 1949.

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(Photo courtesy of Lee Walsh)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, No. 803 Squadron, Aug 1946.  Bob Falls demonstration aircraft. Note the 803 Squadron crest on the starboard side.  On the port side, the team had pin-up girls painted on the cockpit door.

(Admiral Digby Museum Photo, Accession No. 2021.78.01S)

A pair of RCN Supermarine Seafiire Mk. XVs on board HMCS Warrior, c1946. Shortly after arriving in Canada the RCN had to relegate the Seafires to land borne duties only as a defect Griffin supercharger clutch prevented carrier landing.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Royal Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII, which used the more powerful Griffon VI engine and carried two 20-mm Hispano cannon as well as four machine guns. Canadair CL-13 Sabres and an RCAF North Star in the background.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Royal Navy Supermarine Seafire Mk. XVII, which used the more powerful Griffon VI engine and carried two 20-mm Hispano cannon as well as four machine guns.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3204135)

Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV, RCN (Serial No. PR471) after an accident in which the aircraft ran into a bank of snow while attempting to takeoff at the Royal Canadian Navy Air Station Shearwater, Nova Scotia, 19 Feb 1948.

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