Spitfire Mk VIII
Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII A58-602 RG-V
457 Squadron, Wg Cdr R.H. Gibbes OC 80 wing RAAF, Morotai, April 1945.
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII
was intended to be the definitive Merlin-powered variant, incorporating
the lessons from the interceptor marks used in the Battle of Britain
and the later aircraft that carried out the early cross-Channel offensive
operations. The sudden appearance of the Focke-Wulf Fw-190
and its superiority over early Spitfires required immediate action,
and the Spitfire
Mk IX was produced as a quick response by fitting the Merlin
60 to the Spitfire
Mk V airframe. The Spitfire Mk VIII used the same series
engine, but was built as an unpressurised development of the Spitfire
Mk VII high altitude fighter. The Mk VIII was built in high-(HF.Mk VIII)
and low-flying (LF. Mk VIII) versions as well as the standard F. Mk VIII; a
total of 1,658 were built, most of them delivered either to the Mediterranean
or Eastern fronts, seeing service in India and Burma as well as Australia.
457 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force was operational in New Guinea
at the end of the Second World War. The Squadron adopted a fearsome
sharkmouth and decorated their aircraft with "Grey Nurse"
titles after the marine predator. Their aircraft were UK-built, but
given RAAF serials on arrival. 457 formed part of 80 Wing, with 79 and
452 Squadrons RAAF. Wg.Cdr. "Bobby" Gibbes had served in the
Middle East, scoring ten kills and fourteen probables flying P-40 Tomahawks
and Kittyhawks with 3 Squadron RAAF, before commanding first the squadron
and then the Wing. He retained the individual letter V that had identified
his aircraft in squadron service, but replaced their two-letter codes
with his initials, an accepted practice for Wing Leaders. At least two
Spitfire Mk VIIIs were marked as RG-V; A68-602 was originally MV133,
built at Southampton and transferred to the RAAF, arriving at Melbourne
in October 1944. It was hit by flak over the Ternate Islands on 7 April
1945, and finally struck off charge a year later
A Spitfire Mk VIII (ex A58-758) still flies as A-58-602 in Gibbes' colours
in Australia today, preserved by the well-known warbird collector and
enthusiast David Lowy at Temora and flown regularly at displays.
Scale 1:72 Wingspan 6.25" (156 mm) Base
size 6.37" (162 mm) square (No. 4)
Weight not including base 6.75 ozs (190 grams)
Price £86.00 plus delivery
