Revell 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb

By Ronald Dorenbos

When No. 167 (Gold Coast) Sq took off on 12 June 1943 from RAF Westhampnett, they landed at RAF Woodvale as the new No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron, still flying their old and trusty Spitfires Mk Vb and retaining the old squadron code ‘VL’. BM515 ‘P’ was the personal aircraft of F/Lt Jan Plesman. He was the son of the CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and as a former trainee pilot in the Dutch Army Air Force he managed to escape to the UK in September 1940. By 1943 he was a Flight Leader in 322 Sq. On 1 September 1944, 322 Sq, flying Mk IXs by then, suffered a severe blow when losing their CO and both Flight Leaders on the same day. F/Lt Plesman was shot down by Flak in the Saint Omer area, being posted as missing in action since. Plesman was credited with 11 V-1 kills. The other Flight Leader returned safely, the CO was taken POW.

The kit is Revell’s Spitfire Mk IIa, modified into a Mk Vb. Main changes are the new prop/spinner (MDC), new exhausts (Quickboost), gun bulges (AML) and metal gun barrels (Master). The model was airbrushed using XtraColour enamels. Note that the colours Dark Green and Ocean Grey were reversed on at least part of this aircraft. Decals are Dutch Decal (this particular aircraft was named after Princess Beatrix, the later queen), the squadron codes are Maketar custom masks.

Revell 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb

By Ronald Dorenbos

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