The latest issue of Model Aircraft Monthly has an interesting article about the USN pilots who spotted for the naval gunfire on D-Day exchanging their catapult launched aricraft for Spitfire Mk. Vb’s. They had RAF marking, but special code letters just for the USN birds. They flew missions on D-day and for several weeks afterward. very interesting footnote for WWII and Spitfire history.
And I have a Mk. V sitting in my stash… [:D]
So anyway, when you’re in your local bookstore picking up the latest issue of FSM, GSM 2007 and pre-ordering “How to Paint and Weather Scale Models” (plugging our wonderful hosts a bit! [;)]) take a look at it!
I remember reading about them, one of Mk.V’s would make for an interesting subject. I am also planning to build a D-day Spitfire, mine is a Mk.IV S/N ML407. It had the honour of being the first Allied fighter to get a kill on D-day.
This Spitfire was preserved and is now a two seater based at Duxford and I have been lucky enough to see it fly, done up in full D-day markings…absolutely fantastic![^][tup]