The most famous British fighter of WWII is undoubtedly the Spitfire, a hero of the Battle of Britain. This model has a delicately painted camouflage scheme, is subtly weathered, has exhaust nozzle streaks and well-sculpted panel lines. This Spitfire is armed with a pair of 20mm cannons and has the markings of No 616. Squadron.
Main Features: - Accurate Spitfire Mk. VB mold - 1/72 authentic scale - High quality diecast metal fuselage and wings - Historically accurate - Detailed cockpit - Opening/Closed Canopy option - Engraved panel lines - Movable flight control surfaces - Rotating propeller - Ready to display - Display In Flight or In Landing Mode (stand included)
About this title: The 616 squadron’s motto was “No rose without a thorn” and was based in South Yorkshire. They flew in the Battle of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, and later flew sweeps over France. This plane carries the markings of a No 616 Squadron Spitfire Mk.Vb operating in August 1941, and the livery has been replicated in an outstanding fashion.
Royal Auxiliary Air Force 616 squadron formed 1938 as the last auxiliary squadron was initially a bomber squadron but transferred to fighter command in 1939 equipped with Supermarine Spitfires. Aviation art prints available from the aviation art print company.
616 squadron was formed at Doncaster on 1st November 1938 as the last of the Auxiliary Squadrons. Formed initially as a bomber squadron equipped with Hawker Hinds, it was re-equipped with Gloster Gauntlets in June 1939 and transferred to Fighter Command. The squadron's first Spitfires arrived in late October. 616 first saw action and claimed its first victories whilst covering the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. Returning to Yorkshire, the squadron claimed further enemy victims with 15th August standing out as a memorable day. 616 intercepted a large force of unescorted German bombers off the Yorkshire coast and claimed eight enemy aircraft destroyed. They moved to Kenley to join 11 Group at the height of the Battle of Britain, and destroyed 15 aircraft and claimed a further 15 as probables or damaged. During February 1941, 616 joined the Tangmere Wing led by Wg Cdr Douglas Bader. Flying Spitfire II fighters, they flew 'circus' and 'ramrod' sweeps over Northern France, and re-equipped with Spitfires Vb during July 1941. For the next two years 616 continued as a front line fighter squadron and was heavily engaged during the Dieppe expedition and later flying beach-head patrols on D-Day. In July 1944, 616 re-equipped with Gloster Meteor jet fighter thus becoming the first and only Allied squadron to operate jet aircraft in World War II. The squadron destroyed a number of V1 flying bombs whilst operating from Manston before joining the 2nd Tactical Air Force. In January 1945, 616 moved to the continent and operated in the ground attack role before being disbanded at Lubeck on 29th August. The squadron was re-formed at Finningley on 31st July 1946 equipped with Mosquito NF XXX night fighters which were replaced with Meteor F 3 day fighters a few months later. 616 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force was finally disbanded at RAF Worksop on 10th March 1957 whilst equipped with Meteor F8 aircraft. Summer of 41 by Tom Marchant The Pilot, Squadron Leader L.H. Buck Casson D.F.C., A.F.C., a founder member of 616 Squadron took this aircraft into action in July 1941. In August he was shot down over France and became a prisoner of war. After the war he returned to Command the Squadron flying Meteors
MILITARY AIRCRAFT 
