These two Spit IX skins were requested by swareiam for a future Target for Today event based around the ill-fated 1942 Anglo-Canadian assault on the French port of Dieppe. Thank you as always to Lyric1 for finding me the photos for these skins. The upper screenshots are of a 64 Squadron RAF aircraft while the lower ones are of a 401 Squadron RCAF one.
This Spitfire Mark IX was one of the first off the production line and was flown by 64 Squadron RAF, the first squadron to be equipped with the type in July 1942. The Mark IX was essentially a Mark V but with a two stage rather than single stage supercharged Merlin engine fitted and was rushed into service to counter the dominance of the Luftwaffe's FW 190. Throughout the war they fought in Northern Europe, fighting over Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, Normandy, later moving to France and then Germany.
401 Squadron RCAF fought in the Battle of Britain destroying around 30 enemy aircraft between August and October 1940. After a spell in Scotland they were active flying fighter sweeps over France throughout 1941, trading in their Hurricanes for Spitfires at the end of the year. In July 1942 they were re-equipped with the latest Mark IX Spitfires in time for the disastrous Operation Jubilee attack on Dieppe and this skin represents one of those first Mark IXs. The squadron fought over Normandy and as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force supported the advancing Allied armies over France, Holland and Germany. In October 1944 the squadron claimed the first Me 262 shot down by either the RAF or RCAF and ended the war as the top scoring squadron of the 2nd TAF.
