Hobby Master 1/48 HA8312 Spitfire Mk. IX EN522, flown by Sqn Ldr John Ratten, OC No. 453 Sqn., April 1943
Hobby Master 1/48 Spitfire Mk. IX EN522, flown by Sqn Ldr John Ratten, OC No. 453 Sqn., April 1943 HA8312
The Mk. IX replaced the Mk. V in June 1942 and on September 12, 1942 a Mk. IX brought down a Ju-86R flying at 43,000 feet. Another major achievement of the Mk. IX took place on October 5, 1944 when 401 Squadron became the first allied aircraft to shoot down an Me-262 jet. Even with the arrival of the Griffon powered Mk. XIV the Mk. IX continued in service until the end of WWII. There were 5,665 Mk. IX Spitfires and its variants produced.
Spitfire IXb EN522 first flew February 12, 1943. The No. 453 Squadron received the new Mk. IX the first week of April 1943. On April 8, 1943 Sqn., Ldr John Ratten flew EN522 “Tikkie” while leading the Hornchurch Wing on a sweep over Abbeville, France they encountered 14 Fw-190s and Sqn., Ldr John Ratten shared a damaged Fw-190. John Ratten’s air-to-air total was 5, awarded a DFC and he was the first Australian to command a Spitfire squadron. EN522 was lost in July 1944 while with the No. 611 Squadron.