Final product photos HA8312 Spitfire Mk.IX Sqn Ldr John Ratten.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8312 Spitfire Mk.IX EN522, Sqn Ldr John Ratten, OC No. 453 Sqn., April 1943.

Spitfire IXb EN522 first flew February 12, 1943. The No. 453 Squadron received the new Mk. IX the first week of April 1943. On April 8, 1943 Sqn., Ldr John Ratten flew EN522 “Tikkie” while leading the Hornchurch Wing on a sweep over Abbeville, France they encountered 14 Fw-190s and Sqn., Ldr John Ratten shared a damaged Fw-190. 

John Ratten’s air-to-air total was 5, awarded a DFC and he was the first Australian to command a Spitfire squadron. EN522 was lost in July 1944 while with the No. 611 Squadron.