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.

This particular 1:48 scale replica of a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIVe fighter was flown by legendary ace, Johnnie Johnson. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wing Span: 9-inches
Length: 7-1/2-inches

Release Date: November 2007

Historical Account: "Here's Johnny" - Air Vice Marshal James Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO and two Bars, DFC and Bar (March 9th, 1915-January 30th, 2001) was a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who during World War II shot down 38 Luftwaffe aircraft, thus becoming the British flying ace with the most "kills" during the war.

In August 1939, Johnson was called up, and after training posted to No.19 Squadron in the following August, though he was soon transferred to 616 Squadron at Coltishall in September 1940. However his injury continued to trouble him, and he found flying extremely painful.

He opted to have an operation that would correct the problem, but this meant he would miss the Battle of Britain. He returned to operational flying in early 1941, and with 616 Squadron forming part of the Tangmere Wing Johnson often found himself flying alongside the legendary W/C Douglas Bader.

Proving himself both a capable fighter pilot and excellent formation leader, Johnson opened his account by claiming a Bf-109 fighter in May 1941. Flying extensively through the summer fighter offensives he was quickly promoted and by June 1942 Johnson was in command of 610 squadron. Johnson led his squadron through Operation Jubilee the Allied amphibious assault on the port of Dieppe. After shooting down a FW 190, Johnson had what he considered his most difficult combat of the war, embroiled in an exhausting and hectic dogfight with a single FW-190, and only managing to escape by power-diving through the AA barrage over the Allied destroyer screen. Returning to base Johnson was rebuked by West Malling wing leader Wing Commander Pat Jameson for his swearing over the radio.

In March 1943, now a Wing Commander, he took over the Canadian Wing stationed at RAF Kenley. Despite initial resistance to a British Wing Leader from his tough, obstinate Canadian charges, he quickly won them over with his sheer force of personality, the unit, now flying the Spitfire Mk. IX, became one of the highest scoring fighter wings of the time. Johnson chose his radio call-sign at this time as 'Greycap'. During offensive sweeps over Europe and as escorts to the USAAF heavy bomber streams, he personally claimed 14 kills during the summer of 1943. Johnson's tour ended in September 1943, being given a desk job at No.11 Group Headquarters until March 1944, when he was put in charge of 144 (RCAF) Wing. With his 28th claim on May 5th, 1944, Johnson became the highest scoring ace still on operations.

After D-Day in June 1944, Johnson added further to his tally, claiming another 10 aircraft shot down from March-July 1944. The Wing was the first to be stationed on French soil following the invasion. With their radius of action now far extended compared to the squadrons still in the UK, the Wing scored heavily through the summer. After the Normandy break-out, 144 Wing was disbanded, Johnson being given command of 127 Wing. In August 1944, while outrunning a flight of Bf 109's, Johnson's Spitfire IX was hit by enemy aircraft fire for the first and only time, taking a cannon shell in the right wing root. His 38th and last claim of the war was on September 27th, 1944, over Nijmegen.

His wartime record was 515 sorties flown, 34 aircraft claimed destroyed with a further 7 shared destroyed, 3 probable destroyed, 10 damaged, and one shared destroyed on the ground. All his kills were fighters.