This is a list of operators of the Supermarine Spitfire and Seafire.

Operators

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force No. 79 Squadron RAAF 1943–1945 No. 85 Squadron RAAF 1943–1945 No. 451 Squadron RAAF 1943–1946 No. 452 Squadron RAAF 1941–1945 No. 453 Squadron RAAF 1942–1946 No. 457 Squadron RAAF 1941–42, 1942–1945 No. 100 Squadron RAAF (Air Force Heritage Squadron) 2021–present

The RAAF Fighter Squadrons mentioned above used the Spitfire in Europe, North Africa, Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific War. Additionally many Operation Training Units [OTUs] based in Australia operated the Spitfire as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme [EATS]. Some RAF squadrons also flew Spitfires in Australia: 54 Squadron Royal Air Force 548 Squadron Royal Air Force 549 Squadron Royal Air Force

RAAF Spitfire 453 squadron fought in Europe. Formed in New South Wales, they were based in Britain, and after the surrender of Germany, they remained in Britain for several months but later were deployed to join the British occupation forces in Germany on the 29th of August.

RAAF 451 Squadron fought in North Africa and the Mediterranean. When it was assigned to defend the Nile Delta area in 1943, it operated Hurricanes and a detachment of Spitfire fighters for high-altitude interceptions. In early 1944 it was completely equipped with Spitfires and based in Corsica. Now its mission changed to support operations in Italy and southern France, missions consisted mainly in escorting bombers and conducting armed reconnaissance patrols. In late 1944 it was transferred to the United Kingdom, where it was based until moved to Germany at the end of the war.

When fighters were needed to defend the Northern Territory from the Japanese, the RAAF started receiving American fighters but Australian government wanted RAF Spitfires to be deployed to Australia. The Spitfire had better high altitude performance than the RAAF P-40 Kittyhawk and was considered by RAAF as the best fighter Australia could get. In 1942, RAAF 452 Squadron, RAAF 457 Squadron, and RAAF and RAF 54 Squadron were moved to Australia as 1st Wing RAAF. They saw a lot of combat over the first twelve months fighting Japanese bombers, recon, and fighter sweeps.

RAAF 79th Squadron was used in New Guinea and the Solomons campaign for protection of the airfields which the American heavy bombers used. In late 1943, 79 Squadron relocated to Morotai.

As Mk. V Spitfires were quickly worn out by combat operations in 1943, new Mk. VIII Spitfire started to arrive to RAAF. Unfortunately the Spitfire plane was not rugged enough for the flying conditions of Northern Australia and the Pacific and had numerous technical and mechanical failures. It did not help that supporting Spitfire squadrons on remote Pacific islands proved to be a nightmare due to poor logistics. Operationally its short range was a handicap for the Pacific theatre.

RAAF 551 Squadron was formed in Australia in February 1941. RAAF 452 Squadron was created in UK in April 1941. Started fighting in Europe and later transferred to Australia. RAAF 453 Squadron. Reformed in 1941 in June 1942 and equipped with Supermarine Spitfire aircraft to be part of RAF Fighter Command. Fought in Europe. RAAF 457 Squadron was created in UK in June 1941. Started fighting in Europe and later transferred to Australia. RAAF 79 Squadron was created In April 1943 in Australia. It included Australian pilots had already fought in North Africa. RAAF 85 Squadron was formed in 1943 with Brewster Buffaloes and in late 1944 received Mk.Vs retired from 79 Squadron.

Two airworthy Spitfires, a Mk. VIII and a Mk. XVI. were acquired from Temora Aviation Museum by the RAAF in July 2019 as part of the Temora Historic Flight. From March 2021 they will be operated by the Air Force Heritage Squadron as warbirds.

Royal Australian Navy After the war some Spitfires were used as trainers for newcomers at the RAAF. The planes were worn out, only lasting for short flights among the sea space.

Belgium

Belgian Air Force No. 349 Squadron RAF 1943–1945 1945–46 No. 350 Squadron RAF 1941–1946

After the war, Spitfires FR.14 variants were supplied to the Belgian Air Force and flew with Nos. 349 and 350 Squadrons of the 1st Wing at Beauvechain, Nos 1, 2, and 3 Squadrons of the 2nd Wing at Florennes, Nos 23, 27 and 31 Squadrons of the 10th Wing at Chièvres, and the Fighter School at Koksijde.

Burma Burma Air Force The Myanmar Air Force (MAF), was formed as the Burmese Air Force on 16 January 1947, while Burma (as Myanmar was known until 1989) was still under British rule. By 1948, the fleet of the new air force included 40 Airspeed Oxfords, 16 de Havilland Tiger Moths, four Austers, and three Supermarine Spitfires transferred from the RAF. Douglas Dakotas were acquired ca 1950. In 1953, the Burmese Air Force bought 30 Supermarine Spitfires from Israel and 20 Supermarine Seafires from the United Kingdom. In 1957 the Burmese Air Force procured 21 Hawker Sea Fury fighters from the UK. Israel sold second-hand Spitfires to Burma, which had acquired them from Czechoslovakia and Italy and they remained operational until the 1960s.

Canada Canada operated many Spitfires in both their fighter and fighter-bomber configurations, but only owned 8. No. 403 Squadron was the first to fly them for Canadian Operations in 1941 and a total of 14 squadrons would fly them over the course of the war. Of those, 3 formed an RCAF Fighter-Reconnaissance Wing, 10 Squadrons flew them in Europe. The remaining squadron, No. 417 flew fighter-bombers in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. One of the first Messerschmitt Me 262 to be shot down was by a spitfire from No. 401 Squadron. Spitfires were also used in the Burma Campaign, but to an unknown extent. Royal Canadian Air Force No. 400 Squadron RCAF No. 401 Squadron RCAF 1941–1945 No. 402 Squadron RCAF 1942–1945 No. 403 Squadron RCAF 1941–1945 No. 411 Squadron RCAF 1941–1946 No. 412 Squadron RCAF 1941–1945 No. 414 Squadron RCAF 1943–1945 No. 416 Squadron RCAF No. 417 Squadron RCAF No. 421 Squadron RCAF 1943–1945 No. 430 Squadron RCAF No. 441 Squadron RCAF 1944–45 No. 442 Squadron RCAF No. 443 Squadron RCAF 1944–1946 No. 13 Squadron RCAF

Royal Canadian Navy

Czechoslovakia

Czech Air Force in exile in Great Britain No. 310 Squadron RAF 1941–1946 No. 312 Squadron RAF 1941–1946 No. 313 Squadron RAF 1941–1945

Three RAF squadrons were manned by Czechoslovak pilots that had escaped to Poland and France, and after the Battle of France arrived to United Kingdom.

On 10 July 1940 first Czech fighter squadron was established at Duxford. 310 Squadron became operational and equipped with Hurricanes fought in the Battle of Britain. In July 1941 moved to Scotland to transition to Supermarine Spitfire IIa. Some months later Spitfire Vbs were received. In 1944 the squadron re-equipped with Spitfire Mk. IX and became a fighter-bomber unit. 312 Squadron was formed in August 1940, also equipped with Hurricanes. It changed to Spitfires in October 1941. In September 1943 it became a fighter-bomber unit with Spitfire Mk. IX.

Czechoslovak Air Force

Czechoslovak National Security Guard

After the end of the war in late 1945 Czechoslovak RAF Spitfire squadrons were transferred to the Czechoslovak armed forces. All Free Czechoslovak Air Force squadrons were merged in 313 squadron, equipped with Spitfires MK.IX. They were the fighter force in the postwar Czechoslovak air force until Communist Putsch in 1948 removed all wartime serving Czechs pilots and planes from the air force placing them into prison camps or forced labour. The new communist government was supplied with Soviet fighters and hastily get rid of the Spitfires, selling them to Israel.

Denmark

Royal Danish Air Force

38 Supermarine HF MK IX E were in service from 1947 – 1955 as day fighters. 3 Supermarine PR MK XI was in service from 1947 – 1955 in a photo reconnaissance role.Schrøder, Hans (1991). "Royal Danish Airforce". Ed. Kay S. Nielsen. Tøjhusmuseet, 1991, p. 1–64. .

Egypt Royal Egyptian Air Force

In the immediate post-war period surplus Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXs were acquired. Egypt operated 26 Mk. V Spitfires from 1943 to 1949 and 38 Mk. IX planes from 1946 to 1955. In 1948 Spitfire Mk. IX was the main fighter in Egyptian Air Force, so they clashed with Israeli fighters. They also suffered heavy losses in attacks, as in May 1948 when Spitfires of 2 Sqn mistakenly attacked RAF base in Ramat David and lost five planes. From 1947 – 1956, the Egyptian Air Force operated some Spitfire Mk. 22 and one Mk. IX two seats trainer.

France

Free French Air Force No. 326 Squadron 1943–1945 No. 327 Squadron No. 328 Squadron No. 329 Squadron 1944–45 No. 340 Squadron 1941–1945 No. 341 Squadron 1943–1945 No. 345 Squadron 1944–45

Free French Spitfire Squadrons operated under RAF command, having its RAF squadron number and French Fighter group number: 340 (Free French) Squadron, G.C. IV/2 "Ile de France", was formed in Scotland in November 1941. 341 (Free French) Squadron, G.C. III/2 "Alsace", was formed in January 1943 with Free French Air Forces personnel transferred from various RAF fighter squadrons in North Africa. 345 (Free French) Squadron, G.C. II/2 "Berry", was formed in Scotland in January 1944 with French pilots who had been based in North Africa. 329 (Free French) Squadron, G.C. I/2 "Cicognes", was formed in July 1941.

Squadron 329 operated in North Africa and later moved to UK. These squadrons supported the allied advance from Normandy beachheads across Europe. In 1945 were based in Germany and transferred to French command.

After reunification in July 1943 ex-Vichy Fighter Squadrons (Air Force and Navy) equipped joined former Free French squadrons, inside RAF organization, and converted to Spitfires. No.326 Squadron was G.C. II/7 'Nice', created in 1943. Its first mission as GC II/7 was an armed reconnaissance mission on April 30, 1943. In June replaced its Mk. VB Spitfires with Mk .IX variant. First Armée de l'Air unit to be stationed on French soil, when it was based in Corsica at the end of 1943. No.327 Squadron was G.C. I/3 'Corse', created in North Africa in early 1943. No.328 Squadron was G.C. I/7 'Provence', created in Corsica in December 1943.

The three squadrons formed 1ère Escadre de Chasse (1st Fighter Wing), with 20 Spitfires in each squadron. All were initially equipped with Spitfire Vs received from RAF, but later received other versions.

These squadrons were based in Corsica from 1943 and covered the Allied landing in Southern France in August 1944. Later they moved to Alsace-Lorraine, supporting the First French Army advance into Germany. Armee de l'Air After world War two French Air Force had about 300 Spitfires in Europe. Some more were acquired by refurbishing spitfires found in North Africa scrap depots.

First French used in Indochina war were spitfires. The RAF transferred 246 Squadron's Spitfire Mk. VIIIs to French Air Force. More were received from RAF surplus or were transferred from France

Aviation Navale The French Aviation purchased Seafires to operate from ex-Royal Navy aircraft carriers H.M.S. Biter (future Dixmude) and Colossus (future Arromanches). France bought a first batch of 50 and a second batch of 65 Seafire Mk IIIs. Some Seafire XV planes were later bought to meet NATO missions. French Navy purchased a total of 179 Mk. III and 15 Mk .XV for Fighter Squadrons 1.F, 12.F and flights 10.S, 11.S, 54.S; and also Rochefort school flight.

Two squadrons were deployed on the carrier Arromanches in 1948 to fight in the Indochina War. Aviation naval Seafires operated from land bases and from Arromanches on ground attack missions until January 1949. After returning to Europe Seafires were replaced with Seafire XVs and in 1950 these were replaced by Grumman F6F Hellcats.

Germany Luftwaffe captured several Spitfires and used them to test, and for operational training duties. Luftwaffe 2./Versuchsverband ObdL