Pacific Wrecks Forum

Were these two aircraft used against the Japanese Zero and how did they fare in dogfights? I would assume they would have been flown by Australian and New Zealand pilots mostly.
Harry ex-USN AIR COMBAT CREWMAN

Hi yes the RAAF used Spitfires in Darwin against the Japanese air attacks (64 all up). They had a shocking record to start with. Many could not handle the tropical conditions. The losses were high mainly due to mechanical problems not the Zeros. I think the RNZAF used them in the Pacific too maybe a squadron or two. No Hurricanes were used over here. Cheers Rod

Thank you much Rod
Best regards
Harry

The Dutch used Hurricanes in Indonesia:

http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/g ... hhids.html

The Seafire was also used in the Pacific:

http://www.odyssey.dircon.co.uk/pacspitfire.htm

The Hurricane was used by RAF squadrons (piloted by RAF, RAAF, RNZAF and even SAAF pilots) in Burma, Malaya and Singapore. The Dutch also used them in the NEI.

Brian Cull has released a book titled "Hurricanes Over Singapore" which covers this topic very well.

The Spitfire was used by RAAF squadrons (piloted by RAAF and RAF pilots) in Australia (Darwin and northern-WA), NEI, Borneo, PNG and very briefly in the Philippines. Training units in Australia (particularly 2 OTU at Mildura at 8 OTU at Parkes) also operated the Spitfire.

The Spitfire was also used by RAF squadrons in the CBI theatre.

As mentioned above the RN/FAA also used the Seafire in the later stages of the war.