Supermarine BC Skemcis

The Supermarine BC Skemcis is a British Columbian single-seat fighter aircraft manufactured by Supermarine British Columbia that was used by the Royal British Columbia Air Force and other air forces before, during, and after the Second World War. Many variants were built over the course of nearly two decades; due to its evolution over such a long period of time, and especially due to the use of a radial engine in the earlier marks and an inline engine in the later ones, the earliest variants bear little obvious resemblance to the later ones. In addition to the land-based variants, numerous variants of a navalised version, the Sea Skemcis, were built for the Royal BC Navy.

Together with the Sea Skemcis variants, it was produced in greater numbers than any other British Columbian aircraft. Over thirty remain airworthy, and more are preserved as static museum exhibits or plinthed as war memorials around BC.

Skemcis (F) Mk. I
In 1931, the British Air Ministry released Specification F7/30, calling for a modern fighter capable of a flying speed of 250 mph. Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE FRAeS designed the Supermarine Type 224 to fill this role. The 224 was an open-cockpit monoplane with bulky gull-wings and a large, fixed, spatted undercarriage powered by the 600-horsepower, evaporatively cooled Rolls-Royce Goshawk II engine. It made its first flight in February 1934. Of the seven designs tendered to F7/30, the Gloster Gladiator biplane was accepted for service.

The Royal BC Air Force paid close attention to the designs submitted to F7/30, taking a particular interest in the 224; after its rejection by the Air Ministry, Supermarine BC took over the designs and modified it with the intention of providing a fighter for the RBCAF. The new design replaced the V-12 Goshawk with the air-cooled, supercharged 9-cylinder Wright Cyclone R-1820-F3A radial engine. Weighing 965 lbs and having a length (depth) of 43 ⅜ inches, the Cyclone was ten pounds lighter than the Goshawk, and nearly 30 inches shorter. Moreover, this more compact engine was much more powerful, with a normal output of 730 hp on 87-octane fuel. The result was the '''Supermarine Skemcis (F) Mk. I''' ("Skemcis" (IPA [skɛmçis], [skɛmʃɪs], or [skɛmhɪs]) is the Secwépemc/Shuswap word for "grizzly bear"). A single prototype was built, and after its maiden flight in May 1935, was extensively tested by both Supermarine and the RBCAF. These tests were successful, and the RBCAF placed an order for an initial batch of forty aircraft.

Skemcis (F) Mk. II


The serial version of the Mk. I entered production in 1936 and was designated '''Skemcis (F) Mk. II'''. Largely identical to the prototype, they were powered by the R-1820-F3A Cyclone and were fitted with four water-cooled .303 Vickers Mk. IV machine guns (200 rounds each), two synchronised mounted above the engine, and two mounted in the wings. The first aircraft off the assembly line was accepted by the air force on 7 April 1936. However, only fourteen of the forty ordered were built over the following three months; these were given RBCAF serial numbers G01–G14.

All fourteen were delivered to No. 1 Sqn and were coded BE*A through BE*N, replacing the Hawker Fury fighters that the unit had previously operated. Their service with the RBCAF was brief, being replaced in 1938.

Only one has been preserved, BE*D, on display at the Air Force Museum in Abbotsford.

Skemcis (F) Mk. III


Of the initial order for forty, only the first fourteen were built to Mk. II specification, as even before the first unit was finished, a change in armament was made: the four Vickers machine guns of the Mk. II were replaced with six wing-mounted .30 cal M2/AN Browning machine guns; these were lighter than the Vickers, and each was supplied with 350 rounds of ammunition. This modified design was designated '''Skemcis (F) Mk. III'''.

Construction of the fifteenth Mk. II airframe had only just begun, so the new wing design could be built from scratch; this, and the other 25 aircraft remaining in the original order, were built to the Mk. III specification, and were delivered between July and November 1936 with RBCAF serials G15–G40.

The 26 Mk. IIIs built were divided evenly between No. 2 and No. 3 squadrons, with the latter receiving the first four; illustrated here is the first Mk. III completed, as KS*A of No. 3 Sqn. Like the Mk. II, the service life of the Mk. III was short, being replaced in 1938.

None were preserved intact, but the vertical stabiliser of No. 2 Sqn's EY*K is on display in the municipal museum of Ganiks Laxha (called Terrace before 1988), where No. 2 Sqn had been stationed in the 1930s.

Radial or upright? Skemcis (F) Mk. IV vs Skemcis (F) Mk. V


Testing of the prototype Skemcis Mk. I had only just begun when Supermarine began working on a new version of the Skemcis, with two very significant differences: retractable undercarriage in place of the spatted, fixed landing gear, and - important especially for operation outside of southwestern BC - an enclosed cockpit. As reports of No. 1 Sqn's operational experiences with the Mk. II began arriving, further adjustments were made to the new design.

A further issue was the origin of the powerplant used in the first marks of the Skemcis. Although certainly satisfactory, the fact that the Wright Cyclone engine was made in the United States was a significant concern, since in the 1930s BC–US relations were not always reliably friendly, mainly due to disputes over the BC–Alaska border. Consequently, Supermarine looked around for alternatives, finding two possibilities - one a British-made radial engine, the other a BC-made V12.

Likewise, the American origin of the six M2/AN Browning machine guns used in the Mk. III presented another concern, which was addressed by the use of the British-made Browning .303 Mk. II machine gun with 350 rounds for each.

Thus the new design forked into two separate prototypes, the '''Skemcis (F) Mk. IV, powered by the British Bristol Pegasus X, and the Skemcis (F) Mk. V''', powered by the Hoffar HLV-12A-2 Petrel. The difference in engine fit necessarily resulted in differing nose designs, but the two prototypes were practically identical in all other respects.

After evaluation, the RBCAF were satisfied with both prototypes, but in the end, the decision was made to go with the Mk. V as the basis for new production, in good part because of the added economic benefit of using a locally made engine. This decision would have significant, lasting effects not only on the development of the Skemcis and other aircraft, but on the economy and development of British Columbia as a whole.

Skemcis F Mk. VI
Having decided on the Petrel to power the next variant of the Skemcis, Supermarine set to work to productionise the (F) Mk.V prototype, which involved making a number of relatively minor changes to the design, such as changes in cockpit layout, the direction in which wiring was routed, etc. In early 1938, the RBCAF placed an order for eighty examples of the new '''Skemcis F Mk. VI''', with the first aircraft going to No. 1 and No. 2 Squadrons. Ultimately, only thirteen were built, and were all assigned to No. 2 Sqn; in June 1942, the serials were changed to BC01000–BC01012.

At 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time on September 4, 1939 - five and a half hours after the Dominion of Newfoundland - BC declared war on Germany. At the end of July 1941, a few weeks after the beginning of the Battle of Britain, No. 2 Sqn was deployed to RAF Coltishall to take part in the defence of the United Kingdom, giving the Skemcis its baptism of fire.

None were preserved intact, but the near-complete wreckage of one that crashed just off the English coast after being shot down was recovered from the water in 1970. This aircraft, RBCAF serial K51, No. 2 Sqn code EY*C, had been flown by F/o Llewelyn Gough of Gwynedd (now part of Greater Blaenau), and in 1972, after being cleaned up by employees of the RAF Museum in Hendon, it was shipped to BC, where its remains were put on display in a building built adjacent to Gwynedd's railway station as a memorial.

Skemcis F Mk. VII


Hoffar had been working on a further development of the Petrel engine, increasing the bore and stroke to 6" x 6". Fitted with a Bendix carburettor, the new HLV-12A-4B Tern had a dry weight of 1150 pounds and produced 1090 hp when running on 90 octane fuel (1000 hp with 86 octane fuel). The testing of the Tern had begun in July of 1939, and by the autumn it was ready to enter production. Impressed with the new engine, the RBCAF instructed Supermarine to develop a variant of the Skemcis powered by the new engine.

The experience gained with the F Mk. VI by No. 2 Sqn during the Battle of Britain led to the realisation that although it was a capable fighter, more than satisfactory in performance, it was undergunned with its six rifle-calibre machine guns. Already before the start of the war, the RAF had embarked on a programme to develop cannon-armed fighters, which resulted in the production of the Hispano Mk. II 20 mm cannon - a licence-built version of the French Hispano-Suiza HS.404. To incorporate the lessons learnt, Supermarine redesigned the Skemcis wing slightly to add two of these cannon, inboard of the Brownings. The Brownings retained their 350-round belts, while the Hispanos each had a 60-round drum.

The resulting '''Skemcis F Mk. VIIA''' was not only more powerful, but packed a bigger punch. It didn't have to wait for long to see combat, as the first ones off the production line went directly to No. 7 Sqn, who deployed with their new fighters to England in August of 1940, after the Battle of Britain had begun in earnest. Though the Skemcis performed admirably, losses during the campaign forced the unit to convert to Spitfires, and No. 7 Sqn - which became the first of the nine British Columbian Article XV squadrons as 391 Sqn RBCAF - operated Spitfires for the duration of the war. No. 9 Sqn converted to the F Mk. VIIA in November 1940, deploying to Egypt in early 1941. After receiving desert modifications and the standard RAF desert camouflage, No. 9 Sqn's F Mk. VIIAs performed very well in the Middle East. TR*E illustrated here was flown by F/o David Ross of Kaslo, BC; he was shot down in this aircraft in June, 1941. In 1942, No. 9 Sqn became the second BC Article XV unit, redesignated 392 Sqn RBCAF, its unit code becoming M3 at that time. Later that year, the squadron converted to the Skemcis F Mk. IX.



A total of 126 F Mk. VIIAs were delivered to the RBCAF with the serials P10–P79, R01–R46, and T50–T59; when the new serial number system was introduced in June 1942, the 102 remaining on strength at the time became BC01013–BC01082, BC01094–BC01105, and BC01118–BC01127. Only three remain extant: one fully restored at the Air Force Museum in Abbotsford, another at the museum at North Weald Airfield (No. 7 Sqn RBCAF had been based at RAF North Weald during the Battle of Britain), and the third, a wreck, on display at a museum in Egypt, where it was found in the desert in 1997. A fourth survivor was converted to PR Mk. I standard for display in 1966.

After the German invasion of the USSR, the Soviets were in desperate need of modern aircraft capable of putting up a fight against the Luftwaffe, and so Supermarine BC started producing F Mk. VIIs for the Soviet Air Force. These replaced the Hispano cannon and Browning machine guns with eight 12.7 mm Berezin UBS machine guns, and were given the designation '''Skemcis F Mk. VIIB'''; in Soviet parlance they were known as "Скемхис" ("Skemkhis") or "Гризли" ("Grizli").

They proved popular with the Russians, who operated them with some success against the Luftwaffe. White 23 illustrated here was the mount of Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak when she flew with the (men's) 437th Fighter Regiment. She became the first female fighter pilot to score an air-to-air victory when she downed a Ju-88, then some moments later her second kill, a Bf 109G-2. Two weeks later she made ace after downing another Gustav; this was her last kill flying a Skemcis, as she was transferred to an all-female unit operating the Yak-1.

Five F Mk. VIIB are on display in museums, three in Russia, and one each in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Skemcis PR Mk. I
Before the Second World War, the conventional wisdom was to use converted bomber types for airborne photo reconnaissance. These bombers retained their defensive armament, which was vital since they were unable to avoid interception. It was soon found that modified bombers were easy targets for German fighters, and heavy losses were being incurred whenever these aircraft ventured over German territory.

In August 1939, F/o Maurice Longbottom, inspired by Sidney Cotton, filed a memorandum entitled "Photographic Reconnaissance of Enemy Territory in War" with RAF Headquarters. In the memorandum, Longbottom advocated that airborne reconnaissance would be a task better suited to fast, small aircraft which would use their speed and high service ceiling to avoid detection and interception. He proposed the use of Spitfires with the armament and radios removed and replaced with extra fuel and cameras. The eventual result was the Spitfire PR Mk. I Type A.

On the same principle, twelve F Mk. VIIAs were converted to '''Skemcis PR Mk. I''' standard in early 1940, removing the armament and radio transmitter, and the space vacated by the guns, two cameras with an eight-inch (203 mm) focal length were installed, along with heating equipment to prevent the cameras from freezing and the lenses from fogging over at altitude. The twelve converted aircraft, given RBCAF serials P80–P91 (BC23020–BC23031 after June 1942), were all sent to 111 Sqn, which deployed with them to the UK.

None of the twelve original conversions survived, but in 1966, a surviving F Mk. VIIA (original RBCAF serial R33) was cosmetically converted to look like a PR Mk. I for display at the Air Force Museum in Abbotsford. This was given the fictitious code of QQ*M - this has the correct QQ code for 111 Sqn, but M is the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, reflecting the fact that this was the thirteenth PR Mk. I conversion.

Skemcis F Mk. VIII


In 1941, Hoffar had undertaken an experiment to equip the 4B-2 with a new fuel injection system from Atlas-Imperial. Tests were successful, and a small batch of the semi-experimental HV-12A-4C Tern-FI was built, and supermarine redesigned the the Skemcis F Mk. VII to accomodate the new engine; this provided a noteworthy increase in performance, as the Tern-FI produced an additional 50 hp at no extra weight.

At the same time, Supermarine redesigned the wing of the Skemcis slightly, to accomodate a new weapons fit. The Hispano Mk. I 20 mm cannon used in the F Mk. VIIA had a significant drawback in that it was fed from 60-round drums that were difficult to replace in the dark, but in 1941 Martin-Baker had designed a satisfactory belt-feeding system, resulting in the Hispano Mk. II; this doubled the available ammunition for the cannon, as each was fed by a 120-round belt. Further, the six Browning .303 Mk. II machine guns were replaced; with the United States now in the war, peacetime concerns became irrelevant, permitting the use of American equipment. Consequently, the six machine guns were replaced by the .50 calibre Browning AN/M2 heavy machine guns; like on the F Mk. VII, these were supplied with 350-round belts.

The combination of new engine and new armament resulted in the '''Skemcis F Mk. VIII''', which proved a significant advance: the new fighter was more powerful in both performance and armament. In the event, only a small number were built for the RBCAF, with the first three, serials BC01199–BC01201, were delivered to No. 2 Operational Training Unit at Comox, and the next eighteen (BC01202–BC01209 and BC01222–BC01231) went to No. 5 Sqn in early March, 1942. Stationed at Cranbrook at the time, 5 Sqn had been slated to deploy to Europe, but after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the Ministry of Defence decided that only newly-raised units would be sent to Europe; existing units would stay at home to face the Japanese threat. Therefore, 5 Sqn was redeployed to RBCAF Terrace, assigned to the protection of the important port of Prince Rupert 70 miles to the west in a straight line. The Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor, Alaska on 3 June marked the beginning of the Aleutian Campaign, bringing the war close to home, and 5 Sqn was sent to Alaska, assigned to the US Army Air Forces' (USAAF) Eleventh Air Force. The squadron remained on the Alaskan front until the liberation of Kiska in August 1943, performing creditably; most sorties were in the ground attack role, but also being credited with eleven kills of Japanese aircraft.

With an urgent need for immediately available aircraft, the USAAF ordered sixty F Mk. VIIIs in May 1942. However, before the order could be filled, the USAAF asked Supermarine to delay the order, deciding instead to wait for the upcoming Mk. IX. The details of the subsequent deal are lost to history, but the original order ended up being diverted to the Mexican Air Force. After receiving the first thirty in July and August of that year, the Mexicans wanted to double the order. However, the Supermarine plant was already nearing capacity building for the RBCAF, the Soviets and the RAF, and the new, larger factory at Kelowna was not yet complete. After the opening of the new plant in November, however, the order was completed, and Mexico received a total of 110 F Mk. VIIIs, and it was from amongst these that the 201st Squadron of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force was equipped when it deployed in 1944 to assist in the liberation of the Philippines.

None of the RBCAF Mk. VIIIs have survived, but four are preserved at various places in Mexico.

Skemcis PR Mk. II
Along with the F Mk. VIII, a small number of '''Skemcis PR Mk. II''' were built in January and February of 1942. This was the first Skemcis variant purpose-built for the photo-reconnaissance role, and featured a fuselage specifically designed to carry the cameras, instead of having them mounted in the wings as had been done in the Mk. I conversions. This allowed two .50 calibre Browning AN/M2 machine guns to be installed in the wings as defensive armament, each with a 350-round belt.

A total of thirty were built, serial numbers BC23032–BC23061, with twelve going to 111 Sqn (illustrated here) and the remainder to 104 Sqn; these introduced a new painting scheme of overall PRU mauve for PR aircraft. 111 Sqn remained stationed in England for operations over occupied Europe; 104 Sqn was assigned to take part in the Aleutian Campaign under the USAAF Eleventh Air Force, where it remained for the duration of the campaign.

None have been preserved.

Skemcis F Mk. IX and P-65A Grizzly


Though introducing a fuel-injected variant, Hoffar continued development of the carburettor Tern as an insurance policy in case the Tern FI would prove unsuccessful, leading to the HV-12A-4D which reached production in May, 1942. At 1200 lbs (dry) the A-4D was 25 pounds heavier than its predecessor, the A-4B, but with its improved supercharger it produced 1200 hp - fully 100 hp more than the A-4B2 and 50 hp more than the fuel-injected A-4C.

Meanwhile, even as limited production of the F Mk. VIII got underway, Supermarine had further refined the Skemcis, redesigning the tail section to a new form inspired by the Supermarine Spitfire. This new after fuselage was married to the new nose design of the Mk. VIII, with the intention of powering it with the full-production version of the fuel-injected Tern. However, there were delays in productionisation of the new engine, which - due to continued urgent need for aircraft - led Supermarine to improvise by adapting the new airframe to fit the new A-4D engine.

The resulting '''Skemcis F Mk. IX''' thus externally looked like one with a fuel-injected Tern, when in reality it was the last Skemcis mark to be powered by a carburetted engine. The first batch built for the RBCAF, twelve Mk. IXs (RBCAF serials BC01232–BC01243) were delivered to No. 9 Sqn in Egypt in the first week of June 1942, replacing the F Mk. VII. A few weeks later, the unit became the second British Columbian Article XV squadron, redeploying to the UK as 392 Sqn RBCAF. In March, 1943, a Skemcis F Mk. IX of 392 Sqn RBCAF had to make an emergency landing at a German-held airfield. It was sent to Germany for evaluation, and ended up with the Luftwaffe's Zirkus Rosarius, which tested and evaluated captured aircraft, as well as touring operational airfields with these captured types, to introduce them to Luftwaffe pilots and training them in techniques to counter these aircraft.

A further seventy Mk. IXs were built for the RBCAF with serials BC01254–BC01273, BC01289–BC01308, BC01324–BC01348, and BC01379–BC01383, and in addition to 392 Sqn, Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Squadrons also converted to the Mk. IX, which remained operational until March 1945 with No. 2 and No. 3 Squadrons.

As the US Army Air Forces had put its order for sixty F Mk. VIII on hold to await the arrival of the Mk. IX, in compensation for the delay the first twenty of the Skemcis F Mk. IX to be completed were delivered to the USAAF in May, 1942. Designated P-65A Grizzly, these were identical in all respects to the F Mk. IXs built for the RBCAF. This batch of twenty was delivered with the old-style roundel that was phased out at the end of that month - in fact, the P-65As were the last aircraft to be delivered to the USAAF with that style of roundel. The remaining forty P-65As of the original order were delivered with the newer style of roundel omitting the red dot.

A number of American pilots, destined to become type instructors, received conversion training on the F Mk. VIIIs of No. 2 OTU at Comox in April and May. These instructors then ferried the first twenty P-65As to McChord AFB in Washington state, delivering them to the 57th Fighter Squadron prior to that unit's deployment to Alaska. The 56th FS and 57th FS, assigned to the Eleventh Air Force, went on to fight alongside Skemcis fighters of No. 5 Sqn RBCAF. A total of 152 Grizzlies were supplied by Supermarine to the USAAF. Most P-65As were deployed to Alaska or to Australia, where they fought alongside the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) defending northern Australia from Japanese attack, and where their supply chain for parts could be shared with the RAAF.

The F Mk. IX can be counted as Supermarine BC's first export success: in addition to the RBCAF and the USAAF, they were also built for the air forces of the two southern hemisphere Dominions, Australia and New Zealand, with the RAAF receiving sixty and the Royal New Zealand Air Force forty from BC. Whilst these were being delivered, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of Australia set itself up for the manufacture of the F Mk. IX to fill RAAF and RNZAF needs; in addition to the Skemcis licence, CAC also secured a licence from HAE to produce the A-4D Tern engine. As the aircraft built in Australia and British Columbia were identical in all respects, American squadrons based in Australia that were equipped with the P-65A received parts, support, and attrition replacements from the Australian production.

Somewhat ironically, the majority of F Mk. IXs were built and operated outside of BC. In all, 485 Skemcis F Mk. IX were built, with most of these coming from Australian production. 234 rolled off of Supermarine BC's assembly lines, of which 82 were Skemcis F Mk. IX for the RBCAF and 152 were P-65A Grizzlies for the USAAF. Conversely, CAC built a total of 251 before switching to production of the F Mk. X; the bulk of these went to the RAAF, with a smaller number going to the RNZAF and a handful going to USAAF units stationed in Australia to replace combat losses.

A total of fourteen have been preserved, three Supermarine-built and eleven CAC-built. The only one in BC has a convoluted history: originally TR*X of No. 9 Sqn, it became M3*X after the unit was redesignated 392 Sqn - this is the aircraft which was captured by the Luftwaffe and used by Zirkus Rosarius. It was recaptured by Canadian troops advancing into Germany in 1945, who found it intact and nearly completely undamaged, and it was later taken to Osnabrück, where 3 Sqn RBCAF had taken up station. When they returned to BC, they brought the (re)captured plane home, too. It was kept by 3 Sqn as a mascot until 1969, when it was moved to the Air Force Museum in Abbotsford in preparation for its opening in the summer of 1970. The other two BC-built F Mk. IXs - actually P-65As - are preserved in the US; one is at the McChord Air Museum in Washington, and the other, in airworthy condition, is owned by the Commemorative Air Force.

Of the eleven CAF-built aircraft that survive, two are in New Zealand and nine in Australia; of the latter, three remain airworthy.

Skemcis PR Mk. III


As was the case with the F Mk. VIII, development of the F Mk. XI also resulted in a new photo reconnaissance variant of the Skemcis, the '''Skemcis PR Mk. III''', which like the fighter version was powered by the new HV-12A-4D Tern. In addition to the improved powerplant, the fuselage underwent a drastic redesign - from the cockpit back, the PR Mk. III was completely different from the PR Mk. II, being much "fatter" to accomodate a larger fuel tank, improving the range of the PR Mk. III significantly over that of its predecessor.

The PR Mk. III was the most numerous of all PR Skemcis variants, with a total of 76 having been delivered to the RBCAF with serials BC23062–BC23094, BC23112–BC23130, and BC23147–BC23171. During the war they were operated by 104 Sqn and 111 Sqn in the Pacific theatre, and by 399 Sqn in Europe. Illustrated here is PR Mk. III BC23094 of 104 Sqn during the Aleutian campaign; in June of 1942, the RBCAF shifted to an FAA-style of identification, dispensing with squadron codes and using only the unchanging serial of the aircraft. The 2 in the serial identifies this as a recce aircraft, while the 3094 is the serial number itself - the 3000-3499 range was allocated to RBCAF reconnaissance aircraft.

Surviving PR Mk. IIIs were retired en masse after the end of the war, but a number of them ended up in private hands. Eight were bought by the BC government, which were used for a major project to create a photo-map of BC; in 1961, they were transferred to the British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority, which used them until 1972 to photograph power lines in remote areas and for aerial surveying; they were replaced by helicopters. Three others were bought by private persons, who each used them to start aerial photography businesses - one remains operational, still in regular use taking aerial photographs around BC.

Six of the eight Hydro aircraft survive - one on display at Hydro's Stave Falls Dam museum, and one is being restored to its wartime appearance with 399 Sqn for display at the Air Force Museum; the remaining four are owned by Walt Baker Aerial Photography for parts stores for the operational aircraft.

Skemcis F Mk. X and P-65B Grizzly


In peacetime, aircraft manufacturers and air forces have the luxury of time to fully explore, test, and refine their latest designs before finalising them and committing them to production; a consequence of this luxury is that it slows down the rate of innovation. The demands of war accelerated the pace of technical advance to a speed and intensity that would have been unthinkable in peacetime. Even as the first F Mk. IXs were rolling off the lines in Kelowna, Supermarine's engineers were already working on a successor which would incorporate all the lessons learned in combat.

One such lesson, that seems obvious in retrospect, was that the visibility from the cage-like frame canopy of the F Mk. IX and earlier variants was suboptimal. To remedy this, the cockpit area was entirely redesigned around a new bubble-type canopy that afforded the pilot an unobstructed 360° field of view, which gave the new '''Skemcis F Mk. X''' a distinctly different look, obvious even to the untrained observer. The after portion of the airframe was also revised to allow for an increase in fuel capacity, giving the rear half of the aeroplane a slightly "thicker" look. As well, a few minor changes were made internally and around the empennage. The F Mk. X also received a new engine, in the form of the HV-12A-4E Tern. This was a further development of the injector-equipped A-4C Tern FI. Fitted with Atlas-Imperial direct fuel injection, the A-4E was a significant improvement over both its immediate, carburettor-equipped predecessor, the A-4D, and over the A-4C: the A-4E produced 1280 hp compared to the 1200 of the A-4D and the 1150 of the A-4C, while at 1220 pounds (dry) it was only 20 pounds heavier than the A-4D, and identical in weight to the A-4C.

Entering production in May 1943, the first major operational use of the F Mk. X was by No. 10 Sqn during Operation Chronicle, the Allied invasion of Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands in the South West Pacific in June 1943. Illustrated here is F Mk. X BC01268 Kawak Cayoosh III ("Flying Horse III" in Chinook Wawa), flown by F/o Gary James of No. 10 Sqn. James scored his first four kills flying the F Mk. VIIA (Kawak Cayoosh I and II), while his fifth kill came in 268, making him the RBCAF's first Native ace. James and No. 10 Sqn's F Mk. Xs later took part in Operation Chickamin, the BC-led invasion of the southern Kuril Islands.

A total of 136 were delivered to the RBCAF, with serials BC01359–BC01362, BC01374–BC01378, BC01384–BC01388, BC01404–BC01418, BC01449–BC01468, BC01491–BC01510, BC01539–BC01548, BC01570–BC01582, BC01613–BC01642, and BC01715–BC01728. Additionally, like the F Mk. IX, Supermarine BC also produced the F Mk. X in number for other users: 217 for the USAAF, designated P-65B Grizzly, 36 for the RAAF, 98 for the Royal Air Force, and 66 for the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the delivery of the RAAF machines, CAC converted its production lines from the F Mk. IX to the F Mk. X, and built a further 282 for the RAAF and 92 for the RNZAF, bringing the total number of Skemcis F Mk. X built to 927, of which 553 were built in BC and 374 in Australia.

Many survived the war and were retired en masse, with numerous examples passing into private hands, especially in the US, where many were converted into air racers. Further, the US, Australia, and BC supplied retired F Mk. Xs to various small countries after the war. Ten remain in existence, of which three remain airworthy - one each in BC, the US, and New Zealand. In BC there are two on static display (one at the Museum of Flight in Langley, and one at Fort Steele), three are in museums in the US, and one each in Australia and Haiti.

Costa Rica had no air force until after the Second World War, when the Fuerza Aérea Militar was set up in 1946 with British Columbian assistance. In addition to several trainers and four second-hand Lancaster bombers, the RBCAF provided eight Skemcis F Mk. X to form the fighter element of the new force. BC advisers and training crews remained in Costa Rica until 1952; the following year the FAM withdrew the Lancasters, and by 1955 only half of the fighters were operational. In 1956 the FAM was formally disbanded and merged into the army as the Compañía de Aviación ("Aviation Company"), but it got little to no funding and the unit was forced to cannibalise parts to keep aircraft in the air. By 1957 only three, by 1958 only two remained operational, and in 1959 Costa Rican military aviation ceased to exist entirely due to neglect and disinterest.

The Jamaican Defence Force took delivery of twelve F Mk. Xs from BC in 1947 which remained in service until 1961, while Australia supplied six CAC-built F Mk. Xs to the Tonga Defence Service when that force was re-established in 1946; these were retired in 1953, when the air component of the TDS was disbanded. The Haiti Air Corps received ten P-65B Grizzlies from the US in 1947, along with a further fifteen F Mk. Xs from BC intended as parts sources. They remained in operation until 1966.

Skemcis F Mk. XI


The expansion of the Allied bombing campaign over Europe to begin pushing deeper and deeper into German airspace meant that most existing fighter types lacked sufficient range to escort the bombers all the way to their targets and back, making it readily apparent that a new fighter with suitable range and altitude was urgently required. Supermarine set to work on developing just such a fighter. Using the F Mk. X as a basis, the '''Skemcis F Mk. XI''' was conceived as a long-range, high-altitude fighter designed explicitly to serve in the bomber escort role. Originally intended to enter service in the summer of 1943, developmental difficulties delayed the introduction of the Skemcis F Mk. XI until November of that year.

During its development, a new design for the tail was conceived, a variant of which was implemented on the Sea Skemcis SB Mk. III. The redesigned aft fuselage incorporated a larger fuel tank, which allowed these aircraft to escort bombers almost as far as Mustangs could do. An important new feature of the F Mk. XI was the incorporation of a pressurised cockpit, however some snags in the development of the cabin pressurisation system which slowed the project down. In the event, this delay had a fortuitous side effect: by the time the design was ready for production, HAE had finished development and testing of its latest engine, the HV-12A-4G Tern. This was a further improvement on the A-4E model, retaining the Atlas-Imperial DFI but producing 1325 hp. Weapons fit remained the same as on previous variants, with two 20 mm Hispano Mk. II cannon (120 rounds each) and six .50 calibre Browning AM/M2 machine guns (350 rounds each).

From November 1943, 44 F Mk. XIs were delivered to the RBCAF, with serials BC01589–BC01612, BC01680–BC10684, BC01729–BC01731, BC01804–BC01808, and BC01923–BC01929. A number of these operated in the Pacific theatre by 5 Sqn and a few by 101 Sqn alongside its F Mk. Xs, but most were deployed in Europe with No. 1 Sqn and 102 Sqn escorting nighttime bombing raids. Illustrated here is BC01601 Swingin' Colleen, flown by Flt Lt Rory O'Connor of 102 Sqn, who amassed 21 of his 34 confirmed kills with this aeroplane.

The majority of the 299 F Mk. XIs built, however, went not to BC, but to the RAF and the RCAF, the former receiving 167 and the latter 88 from January 1944 onwards. The Mk. XI remained in production until the end of the war, being the only F variant equipped with a pressurised cabin. After the end of the war, both the RAF and RCAF retired all their remaining F Mk. XIs, but in BC they remained operational for a while longer, with 101 Sqn being the last to retire them in June 1947.

The fledgling Israeli Air Force operated a handful of clandestinely-acquired Skemcis Mk. XI between 1948 and 1950, alongside many other second-hand types.

Six remain in existence today as static displays in museums. Two are in BC (one, BC01601 Swingin' Colleen is at the Air Force Museum and the other at the No. 1 Sqn Museum at RBCAF Dease Lake), two in the UK, and one each in Canada and Israel.

Skemcis PR Mk. IV and F-5 Grizzly


As had happened with the F Mk. IX, the development of the F Mk. XI was accompanied by the parallel development of a reconnaissance variant of the new design, whose high ceiling and speed made it eminently suitable for the photo-recce role. The '''Skemcis PR Mk. IV''' was designed not to replace its predecessor, but to serve as a high-altitude compliment to the PR Mk. III. Unlike the Mk. III, the Mk. IV used the standard fighter fuselage, returning the cameras to the wings - as had been the case with the original PR Mk. Is converted from Mk. VII fighters. They proved to be one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft of the war and due to their speed and high operational ceiling, none were lost in combat, though three were damaged, and three were lost in accidents.

Only a small number were built, with sixteen going to the RBCAF (serials BC23172–BC23187) to be divided evenly between 104 and 111 squadrons, operating them alongside their PR Mk. IIIs and later their PR Mk. Vs. This arrangement lasted until December 1945, when the Mk. IVs were all gathered together at 111 Sqn. They were redesignated Skemcis FR.4 in January 1947, remaining in service until June 1959.

A further twenty-two went to the USAAF, which designated them F-5 Grizzly and kept them in service until 1946; five of these were sold to private buyers for use in aerial survey work (two of these are still at work today), the remainder were bought by the RBCAF, which dismantled them for parts to keep Triple One's Mk. IVs flying. Twelve remain in existence, of which four are airworthy; the other eight are on display at museums in BC and the US, including at the Air Force Museum in Abbotsford and at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

The ultimate generation: Heron-engined variants
The last, definitive generation of the Skemcis comprised those Skemcis and Sea Skemcis variants powered by HAE's Heron series of engines introduced in 1944, and although not the most numerous, it is the outline of these variants that are perceived by the general public in BC as being "The Skemcis" that holds a place in British Columbian popular culture similar to the position held by the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane in British collective consciousness.

Skemcis F Mk. XIIB


Hoffar Aero Engines received an intact Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine retrieved from a Messerschmitt Bf 109 that belly-landed in England in 1942. Impressed with the design, a team of Hoffar engineers led by Harold Bolas began working on a derivative that was originally envisaged as powering a mid-engined pursuit design proposed by Bolas Aviation.

While the Bolas scheme never materialised, HAE continued working on the new engine design, and in March 1944, a trials type designated HV-12A-5-1 Heron with steel cylinder blocks and producing 1690 hp was fitted to a modified Skemcis F Mk. XI for flight testing. By August, a pre-production type, the HV-12A-5-2 Heron was ready, of which twenty were built. Thanks to aluminium cylinder blocks, the weight of the A-5-2 remained 1600 pounds, but the power output surged to 1775 hp. In September, Supermarine built a batch of prototypes powered by the A-5-2. Designated '''Skemcis F Mk. XIIA''', the new fighter was based on the F Mk. XI with its nose redesigned to accomodate the new engine. A total of ten were built, which were extensively tested by the RBCAF in simulated front-line conditions; along the same lines, ten prototypes of a new A-5-2-powered variant of the Sea Skemcis were built and tested by the FAA.

While the A-5-2-powered prototypes were being tested in simulated combat situations, Hoffar perfected the finalised, regular production version of the new Heron engine. The HV-12A-5-3 took the previous version and fitted a two-stage supercharger, which resulted in a major increase in power output - from 1775 hp to 1975 hp - for only a 90 pound increase in dry weight. The production version of the land-based fighter, the '''Skemcis F Mk. XIIB''', began after Christmas, 1944. Fitted with the A-5-3, the new fighter proved itself a dominant force in the skies in both the European and Pacific theatres.

Shown here is F Mk. XIIB BC01448 Blonde Dynamite, which was flown by Flt Lt Kirk Macdougall of 3 Sqn RBCAF, based at Antwerp, Belgium in February 1945. This aircraft is representative of the appearance of No. 3 Sqn's aircraft after the unit's maintenance crews applied the distinct RBCAF roundels - which had been introduced in 1942 on the RBCAF Ensign - to the newly-arrived aircraft. No. 3 Sqn were the first unit to do apply these roundels starting in October 1944, without authorisation - but after several other units in Europe followed their lead in late 1944 and early 1945, orders were issued from RBCAF command to apply the roundels to all aircraft not operating in the Pacific theatre "when the opportunity arises". No. 3 Sqn followed the troops into Germany, and was stationed at an airfield near Osnabrück until early 1946. On returning the BC the nose art was ordered removed, but the (by then) four kill markings were retained until the aircraft's retirement in April, 1947.

In total, 66 Skemcis Mk. XIIB were delivered to the RBCAF, receiving serial numbers BC01764–BC01774, BC01793–BC01803, BC01819–BC01829, BC01840–BC01850, and BC01861–BC01882. The first deliveries went to 3 and 107 squadrons, and 2 and 392 squadrons also operated them. A third of Supermarine's output went to Canada, with the RCAF eventually received 33 Mk. XIIB before war's end. In BC, 107 Sqn was the last to fly the F Mk. XIIB, retiring them in January 1947; the last RCAF unit to fly them was 443 "City of Whitehorse" Sqn. From January 1945 on, the factories of Australia's CAC also began manufacturing the new aircraft, as well as the new engine. However, only 42 were completed before the lines were converted to the F Mk. XIIC shortly before war's end. Two are preserved in BC, of which one, owned by the Langley Museum of Flight, is airworthy, and the other is at the base museum at RBCAF Dease Lake; additionally, three exist in museums in Canada, and one in Australia.

After the war, the Israeli Air Force acquired a number of F Mk. XIIB via clandestine channels, operating them alongside a handful of F Mk. XI obtained by similar means; nine were from Supermarine production, the other three were built by CAC. The IDF kept their eleven F Mk. XIIBs in front line service until 1956, and of these, one is preserved in the IDF museum.

The Skemcis F Mk. XIIBs operated by the Biafran Air Force remain the biggest question mark in the Skemcis story - the origin of these aircraft remains a complete mystery to this day, as nobody has been able to discover where these aircraft came from. What is known, however, is that the Biafrans operated at least five Skemcis in a ground attack role between 1967 and 1970. As Biafra fell they were deliberately set ablaze. No serial numbers were found on the remains; the only certainty is that they were F Mk. XIIBs, and that two had Australian-made A-5-3 engines. One of the most plausible theories is that they were previously some of the eleven operated by the Israelis.

Skemcis F Mk. XIIC and P-65C Grizzly


Even as the first HV-12A-5-3 Herons were starting to come off the production lines, HAE were hard at work developing the next iteration. Taking the A-5-3 as a basis, Hoffar's engineers took it to what would become the pinaccle of British Columbian aero engine design. Aside from some minor alterations, the key change was the replacement of the single-speed, two-stage supercharger with a two-speed, two-stage variant that, for a weight increase of only thirty pounds, boosted output by 115 hp, to 2090 hp. As soon as the A-5-4 entered production in mid-May 1945, they began to be fitted to new-build Skemcis F Mk. XIIBs; the A-5-4-powered aircraft were designated '''Skemcis F Mk. XIIC''', but were otherwise identical to the predecessor.

Only 71 were built for the RBCAF before VJ Day, receiving air force serials BC01883–BC01922 and BC01930–BC01960, along with eleven to the USAAF, designated P-65C Grizzly. Although delivered to the US in July, they were never put on strength before the end of the war and were returned to Supermarine. Around sixty of the XIICs built for the RBCAF during the war remained usable after war's end, and these continued to be operated by the RBCAF. After the rationalisation of late 1946, it was decided to remove all other fighter types from service, retaining only the F Mk. XIIC of all the war-era fighters operated by the RBCAF. Redesignated Skemcis F.12C in January 1947, the sixty-one fighters built during the war were slowly replaced by newly-built aircraft starting in November, 1946. Only two have survived, one at RBCAF Comox, and one at DFJB Boundary Bay; the latter one is airworthy.

Some units of the Royal Canadian Air Force had converted to the Skemcis F Mk. XIIB by war's end, and these remained flying until 1947–1948. By 1948, the first jet fighters had arrived to Canada in the form of the British De Havilland Vampire, but a fighter to equip Air Reserve squadrons was desired, and finally the RCAF decided to retain the F Mk. XIIB and to buy a batch of new-build Skemcis F Mk. XIIC. Forty of these entered service with the air reserve units by 1948, and remained in use until 1959. Only one survives, owned by a private individual in Sarnia, Ontario.

The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (Mexican Air Force) placed an order for ninety Skemcis F Mk. XIIC already in June 1945, accepting the condition put forth by Supermarine BC that deliveries may be slow, as the priority of production had to be placed on aircraft destined for the RBCAF, RCAF and USAAF, but once the war was over, however, the production capacity was available to fulfil the order. The first delivery was made in July 1945, with the eleven P-65Cs built for but not taken up by the USAAF being sent to Mexico, and deliveries of the remaining 79 commenced in January 1946. The Mexicans had had positive experiences with the Skemcis F Mk. VIII during the war, and were well pleased with the new variant as well, keeping them in service in until 1960. One is preserved at the Mexican Air Force Museum in Guadalajara.

Skemcis production was set up in Australia during the war, to equip RAAF, RAN and RNZAF squadrons with various marks of the Skemcis. The last of these was, of course, the Skemcis F Mk. XIIB. The plans for the HLV-12A-5-4 Heron engine were sent to Australia as well, and production facilities were converted to manufacture the Skemcis F Mk. XIIC for the Royal Australian Air Force, but at war's end only two had been completed. The RAAF decided that the new variant would be a suitable type for operation post-war, as it was arguably the most advanced type in the inventory at the time, and moreover, the factories were already ready to build it in number. Therefore, the RAAF command decided to standardise on the F Mk. XIIC as one of the primary post-war aircraft types. Around 100 were built, remaining in use with regular force units until 1951, and further remained operated by reserve squadrons until 1962. Four survive in museums around Australia, including the illustrated A69-096.

During the war, the last Skemcis variant to be received by the Royal New Zealand Air Force was the Australian-built Skemcis F Mk. X. They were slated to receive CAC-built Skemcis F Mk. XIIC, but the war's end interrupted that plan. However, after the CAC lines were restarted, the RNZAF decided to opt for the latest variant of a type with which they were well familiar, and so renewed the order that had been placed during the war. The F Mk. XIIC remained operational in New Zealand until 1953 in a front-line role, and until 1957 in secondary and reserve roles with No. 1 (Auckland), No. 2 (Wellington), No. 3 (Canterbury), and No. 4 (Otago) Squadrons of the Territorial Air Force. Illustrated here is a Skemcis of No. 3 Sqn, identified by the red-black checkerboard pattern; No. 1 Sqn used blue-white, No. 2 Sqn used yellow-black, and No. 4 Sqn used yellow-blue checkerboards as unit identification. NZ2509 illustrated here is the only survivor, being plinthed as the gate guard at RNZAF Station Ohakea, where it had operated with No. 3 Sqn RNZAF.

Skemcis PR Mk. V


Simultaneous to the development of the F Mk. XII, the photo-recce variant was also redesigned to accomodate the new A-5-4 engine. The resulting '''Skemcis PR Mk. V''' was virtually identical to the PR Mk. IV, with the notable exception of the redesigned nose of the F Mk. XII. Only eight were built before war's end, receiving RBCAF serial numbers BC23188 through BC23195, and all were delivered to 104 Sqn.

104 Sqn operated the eight PR Mk. Vs alongside its PR Mk. IVs until December 1945; after that, it became a reduced-strength unit with only the eight Mk. Vs. In January 1947 they were redesignated Skemcis FR.5 and saw service in the Korean War until the summer of 1952, when 104 Sqn returned to BC in advance of conversion to an air superiority unit. They remained operational until December 1952, when the squadron transitioned to fighters. BC23188 illustrated here, the first PR Mk. V built, is on display at RBCAF Kelowna.

Skemcis F.12D


Redesignated Skemcis F.12C in January 1947, the sixty-some fighters built during the war were slowly replaced by newly-built aircraft starting in November, 1946, and the total was increased to 100 by the end of 1947; the new-build aircraft were designated Skemcis F.12D. The Skemcis remained BC's front-line fighter until 1951, when it was replaced by the Supermarine Attacker. From 1951 they remained in use by Air Reserve squadrons until the final retirement in 1960. Illustrated here is a Skemcis F.12D as operated by an Air Reserve squadron sometime between 1951 and 1960, wearing the roundel used by BC Defence Force aircraft from 1947 to 1960.

Last operator 102 Sqn; BC01977 is gate guard of RBCAF Sea Island

01961–02060 - Skemcis F.12D (100)

The Royal Thai Air Force received forty new-build Skemcis F.12D in 1947. They were used as front-line fighters until 1960, and then in the COIN/light strike role until 1967, when they were finally retired.