US Navy VCS-7 pilots that flew gun spotting missions on D-Day instead of flying the OS2U Vought Kingfisher seaplane they preferred flying the Spitfire.

"Perhaps because of the high demand on P-51s for strategic bomber escort duties, it was decided that 17 VCS and Battleship Observation (VO) pilots aboard the cruisers Quincy (CA 71) Tuscaloosa (CA 37) and Augusta (CA 31) and the battleships Nevada (BB 36) Arkansas (BB 33) and Texas (BB 35) would be checked out in RAF Spitfire Mk Vbs."

"Spitfires/Seafires were chosen rather than Mustangs to give VCS-7 commonality of aircraft with the RAF/FAA spotter squadrons with which they were operating. The aircraft complements of all three forces was pooled for operations.

The three RAF Mustang spotter squadrons, Nos. 2, 268 and 414, flew Allison-engined Mustang Is and IAs, equivalent to P-51As, which were not used by the USAAF in Northern Europe. In any case, the Mustangs were withdrawn on D-Day to go back to their primary role as tactical reconnaissance aircraft."

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman