Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX – 141 (Canadian) Wing, RAF, Johnnie Johnson, Normandy, France, 1944

Gemini Aces 1/72 scale GARAF1001: Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX MK392 of 141 (Canadian) Wing, RAF, Johnnie Johnson, Normandy, France, 1944. Limited Edition of 2,000 models.

Length 5.25 inches Wingspan 6.25 inches

This particular aircraft was the mount of the RAF’s leading ‘Ace’ to survive WWII; Wing Commander ‘Johnnie’ Johnson. Johnson shot down 38 enemy aircraft over the skies of Northern Europe, made all the more remarkable by the fact that all these victories came against single engined fighters! The aircraft carried his initials JE- J and displays the later ‘Scheme C’ Invasion Stripe identification markings, which were restricted to the aircrafts under-surfaces only.

Designed by R.J.Michell to meet a British Air Ministry specification, the Supermarine Spitfire first flown on March 5th, 1936. With its combination of beautiful fighter design, the excellent performance of its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant and firepower provided by twin cannons and four machine guns, the Spitfire became an unrivaled symbol of victory. Arguably the most famous fighter aircraft of the Second World War: the Spitfire had 40 major variants and was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the time. It flew operationally on every front between 1939 and 1945 and was engaged in every one of the Royal Air Force’s major actions.

The Spitfire was in constant production throughout WWII and some 22,000 aircraft were built before the production ceased in the post war years. The Mark IX Spitfire was a thoroughbred fighting machine. Developed from the Spitfire Mk V variant, it was a direct response to the threat posed by the Luftwaffe’s new Focke Wulf FW 190A, which made a dramatic impact on the European Air War. So potent was this new German fighter that the RAF suspended operations over occupied Europe, as losses began to mount. The Spitfire Mk IX was more than a match for the FW 190 and became the Spitfire with which the RAF took to the offensive against Luftwaffe units in Northern Europe.