About time to add the rest:
The alphabetical designations were not in accordance with the standard form of notation of mark numbers. So the two models for production, the Spitfire D and Spitfire G, became in production. The Spitfire P.R.MkXI and Spitfire P.R.Mk.Vll (since D and G are the fourth and seventh letters of the alphabet respectively). Whereas the Spitfire A-G series had been powered by Merlin II, III or XII motors (being Spitfire I or II conversions), the Spitfire P.R.Mk.Vll, 229 of which were produced, had variously a Merlin 45, 46, 50, 50A, 55 or 56, and also provision was made in the production versions for an oblique F.24 camera.
Provision was made for tropicalization and a number of Spitfire P.R.Mk.IV's was used in the Middle East. The Spitfire P.R.Mk.Vll, which had no provision for tropicalization, was powered by a Merlin 45 or 46. The last Spitfire for which Heston Aircraft was responsible was the Spitfire P.R.Mk.XIII, a low-level fighting scout generally similar to the P.R.Mk.VII. Prior to starting conversion of Spitfire V's to XIIl's, Heston Aircraft modified the last two Spitfire Gs up to XIII standard, but fitted them with Merlin 45 motors.
The P.R.Mk.XIII was powered by a 1,620 h.p. Merlin 32 motor, driving a four-blade Rotol airscrew, and was armed in all cases with only four 0.303-in, machine-guns. It was the first P.R. type to have provision for a flat belly drop tank of standard Spitfire type, a 30-gallon tank being applicable, camera installation was two independent vertical F.24 (5-in.), (8-in.), (14-in.), (20-in.) or (20-in. Telephoto), and one port or starboard oblique F.24 (5-in.), (8-in.). (14-in.) or (20-in,). Instead of the cockpit teardrops, a balloon hood was fitted, and the windscreen was bullet proof. Only twenty-live Spitfire P.R.Mk.XIII's were produced, these all being converted by Heston Aircraft Co., Ltd., the first seven from Spitfire VAS and the last eighteen from Spitfire VBS.
Spitfire PR XIThe last and the greatest photographic reconnaissance variant of the Spitfire was the PRXIX.
It was powered by the Griffon 66 engine, with a max ceiling of 42,000ft. Its normal safe range was 1,160 miles, but this was extended to 1,550 miles by adding a 170 gallon overloaded drop-tank.
She could have a number of camera fits, listed below are the common ones:
1. Split pair of vertical F24 cameras with 14in or 20in lenses, one oblique F24 camera, fitted with either 8in or 14in lenses
2. Spilt pair of vertical F8 or F52 20in lens cameras.
3. Spit pair of vertical F52 36in lens camera
Some 225 models came off the assembly lines with production ending early 1946, but the aircraft was used in front-line photo reconnaissance service with the RAF until April 1954.
Spitfire PR XIXIn fact the last time a Spitfire PRXIX was used to perform an operation act was in 1963 when one was used in battle trials against an English Electric Lightning to determine if a RAF Lightning could take on a piston engined aircraft.
This information was required because the RAF jets might have to engage P-51 Mustangs in the Indonesian conflict of the time.
