Spitfire Mk.IX
BS435 FYF S/L Armstrong 611 Sqn Biggin Hill 1942-3

So, this is my build of ICM’s 1:48 scale Spitfire Mk. IX completed in the markings of BS435 (FY-F) flown by Australian fighter ace S/Ldr Hugo Armstrong’s 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, September 1942 to February 1943.

Following the Battle of Britain, the RAF moved from defensive to offensive operations over occupied Europe. This switch to offensive operations suffered a setback with the introduction of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, leading to significant losses and a crisis of air superiority. The Spitfire Mk IX, a Spitfire Mk V modified to accept the new Rolls Royce Merlin 60 series engine, was the solution to provide sufficient power to take on the Fw 190 at all altitudes.

611 Sqn C/O, S/Leader Hugo Throssell Armstrong DFC & Bar, was instrumental in the adoption of the Mk IX from July 1942. Armstrong’s significant success with BS435 occurred on 20 January, 1943 when he shot down 2 Bf 109F off Pevensey Bay bringing his total aerial victories to 12. Armstrong’s final mission, on 5th February 1943, was leading a patrol off the French coast when his squadron was bounced by two flights of Fw 190s from 5./JG 26. In the engagement his Spitfire was hit by Ofz Heinz Gomann and although being able to radio in that he’d been hit and was bailing out, the subsequent extensive search and rescue operations failed to locate him.