Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Spitfire>HA8317
Spitfire LF IX MJ789, Code FU-B, 453 Sqn., RAAF, June 1944
General Background
The Mk. IX replaced the Mk. V in June 1942 and on September 12, 1942 a Mk. IX brought down a Ju-86R flying at 43,000 feet. Another major achievement of the Mk. IX took place on October 5, 1944 when 401 Squadron became the first allied aircraft to shoot down an Me-262 jet. Even with the arrival of the Griffon powered Mk. XIV the Mk. IX continued in service until the end of WWII. There were 5,665 Mk. IX Spitfires and its variants produced.
The Aircraft
Spitfire LF-IX MJ789 FU-B was assembled at Castle Bromwich and given a Merlin 66 engine. The
aircraft was assigned to the RAF and 403 Squadron RCAF on December 20, 1943 before being
transferred to the RAAF 453 Squadron on January 31, 1944. On June 11, 1944 MJ789 was
piloted by 27 year old RAAF Flight Lieutenant Henry Lacy Smith on a mission over Normandy
when the aircraft was hit by flak and crashed in a canal near Ouistreham, Normandy killing the
pilot who is buried in the Ranville War Cemetery.
Specifications :
| Number built : | 5,665 all Mk. IX variants |
| Crew : | 1 X pilot |
| Dimensions : | |
| Length: | 31 ft. 3.5 in. |
| Wingspan: | |
| Standard (F) | 36 ft. 10 in. |
| Clipped (LF) | 32 ft. 2 in. |
| Height: | 11 ft. 9 in. |
| Wing Area: | (F) 242 sq. ft. or (LF) 231 sq. ft. |
| Weight: | |
| Empty: | 5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg) |
| Maximum Takeoff: | 7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg) |
| Performance: | |
| Engine: | 1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 @ 1,515 hp or |
| 1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 @ 1,712 hp | |
| Maximum Speed: | 408 mph (657 kph) @ 25,000 ft. |
| Service Ceiling: | 4,000 ft. |
| Range w/o drop tank: | 434 miles (698 km) |
| Armament: | 2 X Hispano 20mm cannons |
| plus either | 4 X .303 machine guns or |
| 2 X .50 machine guns | |
| 1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing) |