English: This is one of only two surviving Spitfire HF VIIIs. The Mk.VIIIs were designed for hot climates. They had tropical air filters and were equipped to carry emergency rations and a 1.5 gallon (6.8 liter) drinking water supply.

This aircraft (c/n 6S/238666) was built in 1942 with the serial number 'JF294'. Vickers boxed and shipped it to North Africa in January 1943. The RAF kept it as a spare, so it was not uncrated until November. The aircraft movement card indicates it was to be sent to India in December, but there is no evidence this was ever done. In late 1943, South African Prime Minister Jan Christiaan Smuts requested a display aircraft from the RAF. JF294 was selected and fitted with a 90-gallon, long-range slipper tank. RAF Flying Officer G.E. Chaplin flew the aircraft from Cairo to Cape Town. When it arrived in Cape Town, the aircraft was fitted with two 20mm cannons, and was painted overall PR (Photo Reconnaissance) Blue - a deep azure color - its color and markings consistent with a reconnaissance machine. However, there is nothing to indicate the aircraft was ever fitted as a reconnaissance machine.

It subsequently ended up at the II OTU, the same unit as the museum's Hawker Hurricane. JF294 became the personal mount of Major Doug Loftus, Commanding Officer 11 OTU. He wanted South Africa's fastest aircraft, so he had the guns and armor plate removed to make it fly faster. Paint removal is a thankless job, but removing paint from a wing's underside is tortuous. Two young pilots who had gotten themselves into a bit of trouble found this out the hard way. They had to remove the paint from the wing's undersurface with thinner, as punishment. We have been assured the two pilots in question were quite "blue" over the job! Finally, JF294's aluminum skin was polished. The SAAF loaned the aircraft to the South African National Museum of Military History in late 1944. It remained on loan to the museum until 1955, when the museum officially purchased it from the SAAF. Originally, the museum had asked for the aircraft, but the powers that be demanded the museum buy it from the SAAF. The museum offered 15 pounds for the aircraft, but the SAAF held out for 17 pounds 10 pence - a difference of about five dollars US! It remains on display at Saxonwold, Johannesburg. South Africa. 16-9-2014

The above info was partly taken from the 'oncamouflagedwings' website.