| “Photograph of 41 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire F.XII aircraft based at Friston in Sussex in flight over the South Downs. The aircraft pictured are: MB882/EB-B, MB858/EB-D, MB794/EB-H, MB840/EB-J, MB862/EB-E, MB843/EB-K and 1 other partially hidden. The Mark XII was the 1st production Spitfire to be fitted with the more powerful Griffon engine and this necessitated a larger tail fin to counter the increased torque from the new engine. A retractable tailwheel was also added. The Spitfire’s distinctive elliptical wing was also clipped at the outer edges to increase high-altitude performance. A total of 100 Mark XIIs were built, and they served with 91 and 41 Squadrons. Number 41 Squadron RAF was originally formed in April 1916 and served valiantly on the Western Front between October 1916 and February 1919. The unit was disbanded on December 31, 1919, only to be reformed at Northolt on April 1, 1923. Between October 1936 and August 1937, the unit was deployed to Aden during the Italian-Abyssinian Crisis, and were posted to a new base, Catterick in Yorkshire, on their return to the United Kingdom. It was here, in late December 1938, that the Squadron received its 1st Spitfires, becoming the 3rd RAF Squadron to ever receive them, and was 1 of the few units that flew them for the entirety of World War II, constantly receiving newer versions as they were released. After the outbreak of World War II, 41 Squadron saw only limited action until May 1940, when it provided air cover for the evacuation from Dunkirk and suffered its 1st combat casualties. Soon after, however, it was to play a major role in the Battle of Britain, spending September 1940 to February 1941 on the “front line” at Hornchurch in Essex. Her Spitfires were scrambled countless times to intercept inbound enemy fighters and bombers and were extremely successful against the seemingly endless Luftwaffe onslaught. By the end of November 1940, the unit’s pilots had claimed over 100 enemy aircraft destroyed, with many more probable and damaged. During the ensuing war years, the Squadron was active in a variety of roles, which included local reconnaissance, convoy patrols, bomber escorts, “rhubarb” interdiction flights, fighter sweeps over the Continent, and air-to-air attacks on inbound V1 flying bombs during the Summer of 1944. The unit also played a minor role in Operation Big Ben, seeking out V2 rocket sites on the Continent and attacking V2 transports. Amongst the Squadron’s notable roles were operations against the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, after their escape from Brest in February 1942 and the provision of air support for the Canadian Raid on Dieppe in August that same year. The unit provided air cover for the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 and during the period following D-Day whilst the Allies strengthened their foothold on the Continent. They were also active in the skies over Arnhem during Operation Market Garden, and participated in the Allied Oil Campaign during late 1944. The Squadron joined the 2nd Tactical Air Force in September 1944, and moved their base to the Continent in December. Advancing with Allied ground forces, the unit subsequently occupied bases in Belgium and Holland and, in April 1945, their 1st in Germany. After the cessation of hostilities in May 1945, a role in the post-war occupation forces in both Denmark and Germany ensued. By the end of the War, 41 Squadron had been credited with destroying some 200 enemy aircraft, probably destroying 61, and damaging a further 109; her pilots also brought down a respectable 53 V1 flying bombs before they reached London, doubtless saving hundreds of lives. Between September 3, 1939, and May 8, 1945, 41 Squadron lost 64 pilots killed and 21 as Prisoners of War. The list of the unit’s World War II pilots on this site is considered all but complete, and 324 are currently profiled. Using this number as a basis, these 2 casualty figures account for 20 percent and 6 1/2 percent of these men respectively, or a combined casualty rate of about 20-6 1/2 percent. These figures do not, however, include the countless occasions when pilots were wounded in action or in flying accidents in the course of their duty, nor casualties in prior or subsequent units. Spitfire MB882/EB-B was built at High Post, 1st flight on September 24, 1943; sent to 33 Maintenance Unit on November 24, 1943; Detailed to 43 Squadron on December 21, 1943; Repair on Site Fighter Leader School Milfield September 9, 1944. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Donald H. Smith (August 19, 1915 – January 6. 1999), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Spitfire MB858/EB-D was built at High Post, 1st flight on August 7, 1943; 38 Maintenance Unit July 16, 1943; 405 Repair & Salvage Sections/Units — Almost Ready to Fly at Heston Aircraft Limited, August 8, 1943; Detailed to 41 Squadron September 7, 1944; Swung on Landing and undercarriage collapse at Fairwood Common on May 22, 1944; Repaired on Site by 33 Maintenance Unit on December 15, 1944. Spitfire MB794/EB-H was built at High Post, 1st flight on April 20, 1943; 405 Repair & Salvage Sections/Units — Almost Ready to Fly at Heston Aircraft Limited, August 26, 1943; Detailed to 43 Squadron on September 29, 1943; Hit by flak off Carentan and abandoned on Normandy Beach Head June 9, 1944. Spitfire MB840/EB-J was built at High Post, 1st flight on May 23, 1943; 405 Repair & Salvage Sections/Units — Almost Ready to Fly at Westland August 25, 1943; Detailed to 41 Squadron October 19, 1943; wheels up landing without flaps flying accident July 21, 1944; Fighter Leader School RAF Milfield, September 9, 1944; 33 Maintenance Unit, October 24, 1944; hit on the ground by TB188 at RAF Lyneham January 1, 1945; Struck off charge February 9, 1945. Spitfire MB862/EB-E was built at High Post, 1st flight on July 23, 1943; 33 Maintenance Unit on July 27, 1943; Detailed to 41 Squadron August 7, 1943; Coast Artillery Co-Operation August 30, 1943; Repair On Site after stalled belly landing September 11, 1944; Air Service Training at 33 Maintenance Unit May 4, 1945; Flying accident beyond unit capacity, May 28, 1945; Written off November 22, 1945; Struck off charge February 2, 1946. Spitfire MB843/EB-K Detailed to 6 Maintenance Unit on May 27, 1943; 405 Repair & Salvage Sections/Units — Almost Ready to Fly at Heston Aircraft Limited, August 4, 1943; Detailed to 41 Squadron September 1, 1943; Hit by flak off Brechou and crashed in sea off Herm June 2, 1944. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Bertrand J. H. Daventry (January 22, 1895 – July 27, 1955), Royal Air Force (RAF) official photographer. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1732.jpg |
| Image Size | 308.37 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2332 x 1627 |
| Photographer | Bertrand J. H. Daventry |
| Photographer Title | Royal Air Force Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Friston |
| State or Province | Suffolk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | Imperial War Museum |
| Record Number | CH-12755 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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