The last Supermarine Spitfire model to be produced was the Mk 24, only 81 aircraft were produced, 27 of which were Mk 22's converted to carry extra fuel in the fuselage, wing mountings for unguided rocket projectiles and the large tail designed for the Supermarine Spiteful, all of which were standard on the otherwise identical Mk 24 Spitfire, they did not enter operational service with the RAF until after WWII had ended although a naval variant of the aircraft, the Seafire F Mark 47 sore action with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in both Malaya and Korea. The last Supermarine Spitfire Mk 24 was made in October 1947 and was delivered in February 1948 to No. 80 Squadron RAF who operated the type until 1955, after which some joined the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force serving until 1955. The aircraft pictured above, VN485, last flew on the 21st of April 1955 and is one of remaining three Mk 24's and was one of the aircraft operated by the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, now resident again in the UK. 
Supermarine Spitfire Mk 24 Specifications: Weight: 9,900 lbs Maximum Range: 965 miles Engine: 2,035 hp Rolls Royce Griffon 61 liquid cooled V12 Maximum Speed: 450 mph @ 19,000 ft Service Ceiling: 43,000 ft
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