Thursday, July 5, 2012

Final product photos, HA7113, Spitfire F.XIV, Belgian Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7113, Spitfire F.XIV, SG55, 349th Sqn., Belgian Air Force.

In July 1942 Spitfire F.XIV that would eventually become MV246 c/n 6S/64170 was ordered by the RAF from Vickers-Armstrong. The aircraft wasn’t delivered until 1944 and arrived at No. 9 Maintenance Unit, RAF Cosford on November 29, 1944.

MV246 never saw service with the RAF and was sold to the Belgian Air Force as SG-55 arriving in Belgium on September 1, 1948. The aircraft was assigned to the 349th Squadron and coded GE-R. Unfortunately on October 11, 1948 during a flight the engine quit and the pilot was forced to make a belly-landing.

The battered aircraft was stored until February 25, 1951 when it became the property of the Musee Royale de l'Armee et d'Histoire Militaire. It wasn’t until 1977 that restoration of GE-R began using parts from RM860 (SG37) and RM623 (SG46). The project was finally completed in 1996 and GE-R is on display at the Musee Royale de l'Armee et d'Histoire Militaire  (Royal Museumof the Army and Military History)., Jubelpark, Brussels, Belgium.






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