First flown December 14, 1938, and speed of 656 km/h achieved at 914 m, but record objective abandoned in 1939. Fitted with Merlin XII engine and reduced span (10.25 m). Because of extra work needed to change it to the fighter version, it was fitted with a port facing oblique F.24 camera and was sent to the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) at Heston and then on to RAF Benson when the Unit moved. It only carried out one operational reconnaissance mission. Because having only a 60 gallon fuel tank (designed for world record attempt) it did not have the range require for reconnaissance work. So it remained in service as a high speed run-around until in eas scrapped in 1946