Hobby Master 1/48 HA8302 Spitfire Mk. VIII "Fargo Express" HL-K, Lt. Leland P. Molland, 308 FS, 31st FG, Italy 1944
Hobby Master 1/48 Spitfire Mk. VIII "Fargo Express" HL-K, Lt. Leland P. Molland, 308 FS, 31st FG, Italy 1944 HA8302
The Spitfire Mk. VIII was to going to use the larger Merlin engines so the airframe of the earlier Mk. V had to be redesigned. This kept the new mark from entering service until June 1943. The Mk. VIII was produced in 3 versions; the standard fighter F.VIII with the 1,560 hp Merlin 61; the high altitude fighter HF.VIII with the 1,655hp Merlin 70 and the low altitude fighter LF.VIII with the 1,705 hp Merlin 66. The Mk. VIII was going to be the answer to the Fw-190.
On January 18, 1944 the 31st FG arrived at Castel Volturno, a steel mat strip located near Naples, Italy. The 308th FS was one of the 31st FG’s three Spitfire squadrons and it was equipped with Mk. VIIIs. On January 22, 1944 the 31st FG participated in the invasion at Anzio and in mid-March was involved in the push to capture Cassino. Spitfire HL-K was named “Fargo Express” and flown by Capt. Leland P. Molland who accumulated 11 victories in WWII.