Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XIII prototype L1004 March 1943
The PR Mk XIII was the final photo-reconnaissance Spitfire variant based on the Mk I/V fighter airframe, with all units produced as conversions from either Mk I, II, V fighters or PR Mk VII airframes. Specifically designed for low-altitude reconnaissance, it was equipped with two vertical and one obliquely mounted camera.
Due to the increased risks posed by flying at low altitudes, the PR Mk XIII was one of the few reconnaissance variants that retained an armament of four machine guns, providing a degree of self-defense. The aircraft also featured a bulletproof windscreen and the PR-style sliding canopy.
The fuel capacity of the PR Mk XIII was similar to that of the standard fighter version, which somewhat limited its range. Nevertheless, it played a critical role in photographing the Normandy beaches during the preparatory stages of the D-Day invasion.