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This Spitfire
Mk.VIII "Fargo Express" of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter
Group, 15th Air Force was flown by Captain Leland P. Molland. The base was
Castel Volturno, early 1944, Italy. The 31st was equipped with three squadrons
of Spitfires; the 308th were flying "hand-me-down" Mk. VIIIs donated
by the RAF and RCAF in 1943. These aircraft were from the Mediterranean Theatre,
and were fully British aircraft. Because the need was great for new fighters to
replace their ageing Mk.V(trop) Spitfires, the USAAF gladly accepted these
aircraft pending the delivery of the P-51 Mustangs which were promised to the
31st. The Spitfires' RAF markings were overpainted, obliterating various
stencilmarks and wing lines and the US "Stars and Bars" were
applied. Each squadron carried a distinctive wingtip band, the 308th's being
yellow.
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This ICM model is
finished in Extracolour paints: Dark Earth and Middle Stone, with Azure Blue
undersurfaces. The topside colours were toned down by adding some grey, in order
to achieve a sun-bleached appearance. The HL-K markings coming from an old MSAP
set are the correct ones, some other "Fargo Express"
decalsheets carried the codes HL-X. See the colour photographs in Ventura
Publications superb Spitfire book concerning the Spitfire in USAAF service. The
white spots on the cowlings are safety marks for the positions of the Dzus
fasteners on the cowlings. (Danger Zone Unless Secure) The spinner is in Red;
the Theatre colour for the MTO. Note the dark reddish-brown wheels; I've no idea
whether this is some sort of primer or protective paint. The afore mentioned
colour photos distinctly show this colour!
A total of 1.658 Mk.VIII
Spitfires were produced, among them 160 HF versions with the pointed (removable)
wingtips and the Merlin 70 engine. Six Mk.VIII's were used as Mk.XIV prototypes.
A distinguishing feature of this Mark were the short-span ailerons which were
also used on the Mk.VII. Many Mk.VIII's also had the large-chord rudder. Also
apparent of this Mark is the retractable tail-wheel with its two small doors.
Many desert Mk.VIII 's had the
"slipper tanks" fitted in order to increase the plane's range without
too much performance loss. Armament consisted of four 0.303 Browning machine
guns and two 20mm Hispano cannons in the wings.
Robert
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