Corgi AA38701 Spitfire Mk XIV – 91 Sqn RAF, Flt Lt H D Johnson, West Malling, July 1944

The introduction of the powerful 2,035hp Griffon engined Spitfire MkXIV saw a performance improvement at all altitudes over the earlier Merlin engined variants. It gave the Spitfire a significant advantage over the German FW190A and it also made it ideal for tackling the menace of the V1 ‘buzz-bomb’ flying bombs. No.91 Sqn, based at West Malling, achieved the best record against the flying bomb, shooting down 184 with its Mk XIVs. One of the squadron’s most successful pilots during the V1 campaign was Flt Lt H.D. ‘Johnny’ Johnson. In total he claimed 13.5 destroyed with his first (shared) kill being in Spitfire MkXIV RB188 on 23rd June, 1944. He brought down a further four ‘buzz-bombs’ in the same aircraft which bore the distinctive nose art of a naked lady riding a V1. RB188 later served with 130 and 350 Sqns in Europe and was transferred to Thailand after the war.