For their next 'Squadrons' book, RAF-in-Combat has chosen another 'short run' Spitfire, the F.21. This aircraft was the second Griffon engine version to fly and for all intents and purposes, was an all new airframe. The main differences were a larger and different design wing along with a slimmer fuselage. Troubles with stability kept the aircraft from being quickly introduced into service, but those were overcome on the production line. While initially 3,000 aircraft were ordered, it became apparent that the F.21 would be an interim fighter to the F.22 and only 150 were actually produced.

There was only one squadron, 91 Squadron, which actually flew them on operational sorties during the war, but during the single month of operations, they were used only for ground attack and did not score a single aircraft victory. Despite the fact that 91 Squadron flew some of the 'dangerous' unmodified planes, they seemed to have little trouble with it. Other RAF units to fly the type were 1, 122, and 41 Squadrons, though only for a relatively brief time. The type ended it career in the Royal Auxiliary Air Forces, flying with several squadrons and also being used by miscellaneous units and as station hacks.

Overall, it is a superbly researched and presented book that gives the background and unit operations of the type. In addition to all the great photos, we have the usual large color profiles we have come to expect in this series. Available in .pdf for the moment but I'm sure that others are coming. A book I found fascinating and one that is bound to be a valuable reference resource in the years to come.

October 2014

Review book courtesy of www.raf-in-combat.com. Visit them for other great titles

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