Comments by "Neil of Longbeck" (@neiloflongbeck5705) on "Neither Fish nor Fowl; The Blackburn B20, B40 and B44" video.

  1. Further guise that weren't aware of the float plane Spitfires: there only 5 converted Spitfire 1 R6722, Spitfire VBs W3760, EP751 and EP754)and 1 converted from a Spitfire IX MJ892. R6722 proved to be disappointing and was quickly converted back to standard only for it to be shot down during the Battle of Britain (the pilot survived, the aircraft didn't) . It had been intended for use in Norway, but with Norway's surrender and lack of performance the idea was dropped.The Spitfire VB conversion were intended for use in the Dodecanes and unlike the Spitfire 1 conversion the performance was better the Merlin 45 with a 4-blade prop allowed a max speed of 324mph and a service ceiling of 33,400 feet. They carried the same armament as the standard Spitfire VB. They were sent to Egypy, but the last of the Dodecanes fell to the Germans before they were deployed. W3760 was struck off in January 1944 and EP751 followed in December 1944, but what happened to EP754 is not recorded in any source I have access to. MJ892 was struck off in November 1945 after becoming IIRC the fastest float plane of WW2 with a top speed of 377mph and a service ceiling of 38,000 feet. It also had the same surname t as a standard Spitfire IX. IIRC Folland was involved in the conversions of the Spitfire Vs and the Spitfire IX, but I don't know about the Spitfire 1 conversion which used floats of a Bkackburn Roc.
    1