Subject: Re: USAAF Spitfire Mk.VIII
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "RJ en Ellie Willekens" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 09:42:57 -0800

Hi Robert,
Thanks for sending in your Spitfire article.  It is a very nicely done US Spitfire.  I'll e-mail you when your article goes on ARC.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: RJ en Ellie Willekens 
  To: Bamford, Steve 
  Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 10:43 AM
  Subject: USAAF Spitfire Mk.VIII

  Gallery Template #06

  1/48 Spitfire Mk.VIII

  by Robert-Jan Willekens
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  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.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 

  This Ukranian 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!

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  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 ditinguishing 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.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Photos and text © 2003 by "your name goes here"