Aviation Historian 17
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We love it when TAH provides inspiration. Prompted by an article in our very first issue, subscriber Malcolm Mortimer from Shawbury has made 1/72nd-scale models of the Supermarine Spitfires that were specially painted for the RAF’s first post-World War Two air display at Farnborough in 1950. At least eight clipped-wing Spitfire XVIs, some with bubble canopies, were painted to represent Messerschmitt Bf 109s, and six took part in the display’s re-enactment of the 1944 raid on Amiens prison. The Spitfires all carried the “UT” codes of No 17 Sqn RAF.
The very young gunner in this Australian Brisfit crew (the pilot is Major Syd Addison) had survived the war - he had actually retrained as a scout pilot to become managing director of Qantas.