
HiRes Skin for the Griffon Engine Spitfire Mk XIVc
of the RAF 322nd.'Dutch'Squadron ......

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Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVc: 

Second Griffon-engined production variant, combining 2,035 hp two-stage, 
two-speed Griffon 65 with features of Mk VIII airframe. 
Development (Supermarine Types 369 and 373) based on six Supermarine Spitfire VIIIs fitted 
with various Griffon 60-series engines, flown during 1943. 

Initial (Supermarine Type 379) production configuration, Supermarine Spitfire F Mk XIV, 
featured full-span wing with 'C'-type armament of two 20-mm cannon and four 0.303-in (7.7-mm) machine guns;
retrackable tailwheel; enlarged fin-and-rudder; extra leading-edge fuel tank and structural improvements. 

The Supermarine Spitfire F Mk XIVE had 'E'-wing armament of two 20-mm cannon (outer bays) 
and two 0.50-in (12.7 mm) machine guns (inner bays); later aircraft, without change of designation, 
used cut-down rear fuselage with 360-deg vision canopy, requiring further enlargement of rudder chord and height. 

Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XIV and Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XIVE 
were fighter-reconnaissance versions with oblique F.24 camera and extra fuel tank in rear fuselage; 
all had 360-deg vision canopy. 

Production of all four Mk XIV variants totaled 957, by Supermarine. 
Deliveries began October 1943 and service use January 1944, with No 610 Sqn. F and FR variants operational 
in Europe up to end of war, some in fighter-bomber role with underwing rockets and/or bombs. 
Introduction into Far East theatre too late for wartime use.

On March 7th.1944 610 Sqdn. gave the MkXIV it's first combat debut.
When Plt.Off.Hussey and Flt.Sgt.Harding encountered 3 Fw190 'Jabos' at 300ft. 
over the sea south of Start Point, Devon. Harding could only claim one Fw190 damaged
after the encounter.

The superior performance of the Mk XIV made it the ideal aircraft to deal with the menace of the V-1. 
No.91 Squadron, based at West Malling, ended up with the best record against the flying bomb, 
shooting down 184 with its Mk XIVs.

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Royal Air Force No.322nd.(Dutch)Squadron:

As personnel escaped from the Netherlands following the German occupation, 
many of them were allocated to No 167 Squadron.  It was decided in 1943 to create a Dutch fighter unit 
and on 12 June, No.167 was re-numbered as No.322.  Based at Woodvale, it was equipped with Spitfire Vs 
and was engaged in defensive duties in the North-West of England.

In December 1943 it moved to Hawkinge and began offensive operations but in February 1944 it moved to Scotland 
to train for the tactical support role.  When it returned to the south in March it was to Acklington, 
where it joined No.147 Airfield (later No.147 Wing) of the 2nd.Tactical Air Force 
and equipped with Griffon engined Spitfire XIVs.

Having taken part in the preparations for the invasion as well as Operation Overlord itself, 
the squadron found itself retained in Britain to combat the V-1 flying bombs being unleashed 
against southern England.  However, in August, with the V-1 threat diminished, 
the squadron converted to Spitfire IXs and began training in the ground attack role.  
Operating from Biggin Hill it carried out this role against targets in the Low Countries 
and that of bomber escort for the day bombers of No 2 Group.

The squadron eventually returned to its home country on 3 January 1945 
and continued to operate from there before moving into Germany itself at the end of the war.  
The squadron finally disbanded on 7 October 1945 at Wunstorf.  
However, the squadron number is still in use by the Royal Netherlands Air Force as a tribute 
and in recognition of its wartime service.
 
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Skin Notes:

Skin was developed from Nico's Spitfire Mk IXc which in turn was
based on the HR skin by DeanH and the HR 3Dz by Col. Gibbon
which was further modified by Ray'Rotton50'Otton.
As usual I've tweaked some, but not all, of this skin's detailing......

This skinning project was developed for Emil's 9th.USAAF/2nd.TAF ETO Campaign

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Cheers mates
David "Skylark" Phillips  