Supermarine Jetfire MkI

[andrewj]

During the later half of 1942 inteligence reports began to filter back to the Air Ministry in London, of a revolutionary new fighter being developed in Nazi Germany. The powers that be were determined to find out more about this new aircraft , so a daring plan was proposed.
A commando raid was planned to steal an example of this new aeroplane, which was ungoing trials at an airfield near Gunzberg. A small mixed force of Paratroopers and Royal Marine Commandos were to be specially trained and flown to the German airfield accompanied by a skilled pilot. The force would be carried in a Junkers Ju52 that had been captured in N.Africa and landed by a combination of bluff and guile, the pilot chosen to fly out the captured aircraft, was a young naval pilot called Eric Brown
On the 10th November 1942 the raid was carried out , the Junkers Ju52 and crew performed brilliantly and within 15mins of landing the team were airborne again accompanied by an example of the Germans latest technology. They were met on the return route by a large escort force which swept the skies of enemy aircraft and ensured a safe return to Britain.
The new aircraft was examined minutely by experts from RAE Farnborough and engineers from several aircraft companies, they found some aspects of the aircraft dissapointing , especially the tailwheel undercarriage, but were impressed by the engines, considering them to be superior in some ways to the cetrifugal flow engines being developed in Britain.
Rolls Royce proposed a re-engineered version of the German engine which would eliminate many of the faults found and improve reliability and power, this eventually became the RR Wye jet engine.
The Supermarine design team quickly designed an aircraft to use two of the new RR engines, by using elements of aircraft already in production or developement the new "Jetfire" was ready to fly by the beginning of August 1943. Air tests quickly revealed that this new aircraft was a winner and it was quickly ordered into production.The new "jets" reached the first squadron ,616 sdq, in April of 1944, two months later they would be blooded over the beaches of Normandy and the rest as they say is history.
With the new Supermarine fighter and the Gloster Reaper ground attack aircraft the RAF quickly found mastery over the Luftwaffe and the war would be over in Europe by the early part of 1945






1/48 scale model of Supermarine Jetfire MkI used by 616 sqd RAF in July 1944, note black/white identity stripes applied to avoid confusion between this and a similarly configured German fighter

Andrew

[Spey_Phantom]

i love it, great work 

[JayBee]

One of the better Jet Spitfire variants that I have ever seen.

Well done.   

Jim

[Hotte]

Great 


Hotte

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Very clean build and finish. 

Ian

[pyro-manic]

Top-notch!

[MichelC]

Absolutely brilliant!

M

[Father Ennis]

Very nice ... !!!     

[PR19_Kit]

VERY smart indeed, and very Joe Smith designed too. 

[Dizzyfugu]

That looks VERY good! Great build 

[Kerrillc]

That's a good looking machine! Commando Raid eh? Shades of Operation Airthief! So Jeffrey Quill was not chosen, Eric Brown instead? It's all good!!

[andrewj]

Thanks for all the very kind remarks, of course Eric Brown was a serving officer and had more types under his belt.

Andrew

[perttime]

Having just read the Wikipedia article on Eric Brown, I'm convinced he was exactly the right choice for the job.

[crudebuteffective]

have just finished reading eric browns book "wings on my sleave" highly recommended

with you on this one cannot think of anyone else for the job

nice back story and very nice model

[James]

Smashing build.