Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA7111
Spitfire XIV "NH700/VL-P" Major K C Kuhlmann, No. 322 (Dutch) Sqn., Acklington, March 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 No.322 Squadron was formed on June 12, 1943 at RAF Woodvale. It would be staffed
with Dutch personnel from within RAF No.167 Squadron. The squadron was assigned the
code-letters VL until late 1944 when it was changed to 3W. In September 1943 Major K.C.
Kuhlman, a South African became the No.322 C/O until September 1, 1944 when he was shot
down by German flak and spent the remainder of WWII as a POW. From March 1944 until
August 1944 No.322 Squadron flew the Spitfire XIV. During a one month period from June 20,
1944 to July 21, 1944 No.322 was tasked with intercepting V-1 Flying Bombs “doodlebugs”.
During this one month period one squadron pilot destroyed 5 V-1’s in a single day giving them
a total of 108.5 V-1’s.
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 |