The Spitfire is the most famous British aircraft of all time. Although less numerous than the Hawker Hurricane, it is remembered as the sleek, thoroughbred fighting machine that turned the tide during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was among the fastest and most maneuverable prop-driven fighters of World War II, serving in virtually every combat theater.

Supermarine designer Reginald Mitchell created this small, graceful, elliptical-wing fighter with eight guns in the wings that were able to fire without being hindered by the propeller. The immortal Spitfire thus became not merely one of the best-performing fighters of all time, but also one of the best-looking. Although never employed as a long-range escort, the Spitfire was a champion in an air-to-air duel. Spitfires routinely dived at the speed of sound, faster than any of the German jets.

A carrier-based version, called the Seafire, was a winner in its own right, serving valiantly on convoy routes during World War II. The Seafire 47 was even used in the early stages of the Korean War, before it was replaced by more modern jet aircraft.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ie fighter that was attached to No.310 (Czech) Squadron, then deployed to Manston, England. Pre-order! Ship Date: 2025.

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Czech-Mates" - No. 310 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovak-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

It was first formed on July 10th, 1940, at RAF Duxford, equipped with Hawker Hurricane I fighters and was the first RAF squadron to be raised crewed by foreign nationals, in this case escaped Czechoslovak pilots. Led by Squadron Leader Douglas Blackwood and using experienced pilots the squadron was operational in only a month and as part of No. 12 Group RAF|12 Group]] became involved in the Battle of Britain as part of the Duxford 'Big Wing'. 37.5 victories were claimed during the battle.

From 1941, the squadron began offensive operations flying sweeps over the English Channel and providing bomber escorts. It re-equipped with the Hurricane II in March 1941. In July 1941 the squadron moved to RAF Dyce, Scotland, to rest and then re-equip with the Supermarine Spitfire IIa and Vb on October 1941.

The squadron returned to defensive operations in December 1941 in Cornwall in the west of England. Another three-month rest period was required in June 1943 when the squadron moved back to Scotland.

In 1944, the squadron re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire IX and became a fighter-bomber unit with 134 Wing, flying ground attack duties during the Normandy landings. The squadron then spent the rest of the war flying armed reconnaissance missions along the Dutch and Belgian coasts. The final number was 52.5 claims with four V-1s shot down.

On August 7th, 1945, the squadron moved to Hildesheim and then a few days later to Prague to form part of the new Czechoslovak Air Force. It officially disbanded as an RAF squadron on February 15th, 1946.