Spitfire LF Mk Vc JM-C AC no AB-509 
of Wing Commander, 142 wing, John Milne Checketts DSO DFC RAF RNZAF
June 4th 1944 just prior to the addition of Dday stripes.  Checketts was credited with 14 kills (4 with No.1 and 611 Squadrons RAF) (10 with No.485 Squadron RNZAF).

In an attempt to combat the introduction and performance of the FW190 at low levels the LF spitfire was developed. with the addition of 'clipped' wingtips to increase roll rate, and 'cropped' impeller blades on the supercharger to cope with the increased prop speed from an uprating of the manifold boost pressure.

The  Mk V was not phased out of some squadrons untill 1945 as it was still considered to be useful for ground attack and close escort for bombers.

As a wing leader Checketts was entitled to use his initials as his AC code.
142 wing consisted of 130 Sqn RAF (Mk V's till August 1944) - 303 Polish 'Kosciuszko' Sqn (Mk V's until April 1945) and No 140 'City of Winipeg' Sqn (Mk V's untill July 1944).

This aircraft displayed the Polish 303 Sqn emblem on a white disk and also the 140 sqn Maple leaf, along with the WingCo's pennant on the Port nose.
The pilots had painted their squadron emblems on this aircraft without permission, but he accepted them as a mark of their respect. 
One interesting note, Checketts shot down two V1 flying bombs in this plane also.

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Checketts was born in Invercargill on 20 February 1912 and was educated at the Invercargill South School and Southland Technical College. A motor mechanic by trade, he was twenty-eight - an advanced age for a trainee fighter pilot - when he joined the RNZAF in October 1940. He graduated from his Wings course in June 1941 as a Pilot Officer and was posted to the United Kingdom. After converting to Spitfires Checketts joined 485(NZ) Squadron in November 1941. 

On 12 February 1942 the unit took part in operations over the Channel when the German battleships 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' made their dash from Brest to reach safety in German ports. On 4 May 1942 Checketts was shot down, bailing out over the English Channel and eventually being rescued from his dinghy by the Royal Navy. In June 1942 he was posted to Sailer Malans' Gunnery School before continuing to No 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron based at Biggin Hill in January 1943. Checketts was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and given command of A Flight on April. On 30 May 1943 he shot down an FW 190 5-8 miles south east of Trouville. 

In July Johnny was promoted to Squadron Leader to command 485 (NZ) Squadron at Biggin Hill. On the 15th July he shot down an FW 190, on the 27th he destroyed two more, and on the 31st a Bf 109G. Leading the unit over St Pol on 9 August 1943, Checketts led a section against eight Bf 109's and destroyed three of them. The other three New Zealand pilots in the section each destroyed one and Checketts damaged one of the two remaining 109's as it escaped. For this action he was awarded the DFC. 

While acting as high cover for bombers attacking an airfield near Amiens on 19 August the Squadron was jumped by a force of FW 190's and Bf 109's. In a running battle Checketts probably destroyed an FW 190 and damaged another. 

On 6 September 1943 485 Squadron flew high cover for Marauders bombing the marshalling yards at Serquex. The Spitfires were attacked by twenty FW 190's from above. Checketts shot one down but was then attacked by several others and his aircraft set on fire. Burned and wounded, he struggled to bale out. On landing he was approached by a French boy, who helped Checketts on to his bicycle and then wheeled him to a spinney. The next day he was taken by a Frenchman to his own home, where his injuries were tended by the frenchmans wife. 

Having been passed from one house to the next by the French Resistance, Checketts eventually met another 485 pilot, Sergeant Kearins, who had been shot down on 15 July. These two were joined a group of 11 other escapees and taken across the English Channel in a fishing boat on 21 October 1943. 

Johnny was posted to the Fighter Wing of the Central Gunnery School as an instructor. In April 1944 he was given command of No. 1 Squadron equipped with the Hawker Typhoon but after six weeks was promoted to Wing Commander to lead 142 Spitfire Wing at RAF Horne. He later led this Wing from Westhampnett, Merston and Manston until 26th September 1944. His last operation was a high escort cover over Arnhem on that date when he shared in the destruction of a Bf 109 with one of his flight commanders. 

In 1945 Johnny Checketts was appointed Wing Commander Tactics at the Central Fighter Establishment. He had been awarded the DFC on 13 August 1943, the DSO in December 1943, US Silver Star in August 1944 and the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945. Johnny destroyed 14 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 3 and damaged 11. 

After the war he returned to the RNZAF, and became Station Commander of RNZAF Stations Wigram, Fiji and Taieri before leaving to take up topdressing. 

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This is based on the original Spit MkV created in the Spit 1a/2 slot by Col.Gibbon. with the addition of his new clipped wing 3dz's. Huge thanks go to him for his seemingly endless supply of great new AC additions.