Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA7109
Spitfire XIV "RB188/DL-K" No. 91 Sqn., Ft. Lt. H D Johnson, West Malling, July 1944
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
The RAF code-name for the V1 rocket was “Diver”. With a total of 13.5 Divers destroyed by
him, No. 91 (Nigeria) Squadron pilot Flt. Lt. H D “Johnny” Johnson was one of the most
successful V1 Spitfire pilots. This Johnson isn’t to be confused with James Edgar “Johnnie”
Johnson. H. D.’s first victory was shared on June 23, 1944. The nose art on this Spitfire XIV
RB188/DL-K displayed a very colorful drawing of a nude red-headed woman named
BRÜMHILDE riding a V1. RB188/DL-K was also used to add to the total victories of ace Flt. Lt.
Ken Collier and ace Flt. Lt. Jean Maridor. Later this aircraft served with 130 and 350 Squadrons on the Continent
and post war was transferred to Thailand.
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 |