Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA7104
Spitfire XIVe, 17 Sqn. RAF, SEA Command, Burma 1945, "Ginger" Lacey
General Background
Spitfire Mk XIV was the most important Griffon-engined Spitfire. It was powered by a 2,035hp Griffon 65 engine based on the Mk. VIII fuselage. Given its superior performance, the Mk.XIVs were used extensively to intercept the high speed V-1 flying bombs from Germany. In the European continent the aircraft was mainly used as armed reconnaissance searching for enemy targets.
Probably one of the best-known fighters of WWII the Spitfire had a big psychological effect at home and in Germany. With its great performance the British were given hope of surviving the Battle of Britain and the German pilots learned to respect its fighting capabilities. It wasn't the workhorse the Hurricane was but the great handling capabilities along with its great looks made the Spitfire a WWII icon. The plane was also used very successfully in a reconnaissance role and was the only Allied fighter in production for the entire WWII years.
Probably one of the best-known fighters of WWII the Spitfire had a big psychological effect at home and in Germany. With its great performance the British were given hope of surviving the Battle of Britain and the German pilots learned to respect its fighting capabilities. It wasn't the workhorse the Hurricane was but the great handling capabilities along with its great looks made the Spitfire a WWII icon. The plane was also used very successfully in a reconnaissance role and was the only Allied fighter in production for the entire WWII years.
The Aircraft
James Harry "Ginger" Lacey was one of the RAF's top scoring pilots of WWII with 28 confirmed kills, 4 probables and 9 damaged aircraft. Lacey had other notable achievements such as becoming C/O of No. 17 Squadron in November 1944, he was shot down or forced to land 9 times and he was the first Spitfire pilot to fly over Japan. He was one of a few RAF pilots that were on operational duty on the first day of WWII as well as the last.
Specifications :
| Basic Information : | |
| Country of origin: | Britain |
| Classification: | single-engine fighter |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Production: | first produced in 1943 |
| Number produced: | 950 of all XIV variants |
| Dimensions: | |
| Wingspan: | 36ft 10in (11.23m) |
| Length: | 32ft 8in (9.96m) |
| Performance: | |
| Powerplant: | 1 X Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 12 cylinder liquid-cooled engine 2,035hp (1,517kW) |
| Speed max: | 447mph (720km/h) |
| Range: | 460 miles (740 km) on internal tanks |
| Ceiling max: | 42,978ft (13,100m) |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 6,603lb (2,995kg) |
| Maximum: | 10,285lb (4,665kg) |
| Armament: | 2 X 20mm (.078in) Hispano cannons |
| 4 X Browning 7.7mm (0.303in) machine guns | |
| Up to a 1,000lb (454kg) payload with other options possible |