Compressibility is not really affecting the tail surface (even if it does). In fact most comments on this phenomena are describing the formation of shocks waves on the wing surface that affect the pitching moment. The pitching moment is so great that the tail surface can't compensate for it... Hence the horrific impression to pull the stick without effect. The immediate solution is to lower the Mach number.
yeah yeah ... I know I am "marking" the wall myself here too but ... this thread is full of info for anyone (e.g : a reminder is a valid info)... Let's step fowrd pass that ugly wall
Note :
1. the Stuka's pilot impression is really good add.
2. Closterman's feelings abt the Spit as one of the top scoring ace of the ETO shld be taken into account more seriously. And even if it does not affect the Spitfire MkI it's an important point of view regarding the Spitfire capabilities vs vs the assumptions made here that tends to extrapolate perfs out from charts of latter variants.
3.the pitching moment is negative on most airfoil section