Spitfire MK.IIA Sgt. E.N. MacDonell, No. 412 Squadron, RAF Digby, October, 1941 (1:48) by Hobby Master Diecast Airplanes
Item Number: HA7805
The Spitfire Mk.II was an improvement over the late production Mk.I's because it had the new Merlin XII engine. The new engine provided an extra 120 hp and could be equipped with either the Rotol or de Havilland propellers. Out of the 920 Mk.II's built 750 were Mk.IIa's armed with eight .303 Browning machine guns. The Mk.II was phased out in 1941 by the Mk.V.
On June 30, 1941 the RCAF's 412 "Falcon Squadron was the 7th fighter squadron formed overseas and became part of 12 Group' Digby Wing. The 412 first saw action on August 31, 1941 but one of the memorable flights came on October 31,1941. On that date Sergeant E. N. McDonell from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada was piloting a Spitfire Mk.IIa P7856 "VZ-E scored the squadron's first victory by downing a Bf-109. One week later he was made Pilot Officer (J15053). Not long after he was transferred to 124 (Baroda) Squadron. On April 24, 1942 McDonell and his Spitfire Vb 'W3436' failed to return. The 20 year old pilot and his aircraft were never located.
Specifications for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa
Entered Service ' August 1940 with 611 Squadron
Performance
Power Plant ' 1 x Rolls-Royce Merlin XII, 1,175 hp (Mk.IIb - 1,300 hp)
Maximum Speed ' 370 mph (595 km/h)
Maximum Range ' 395 miles (636 km)
Service Ceiling ' 32,800 ft (9,997 m)
Time 20,000 ft ' 7 minutes
Dimensions
Length ' 29.8 ft (9.1 m)
Height ' 11.48 ft (3.5 m)
Wingspan ' 36.75 ft (11.2 m)
Armament
Mk.IIa ' 8 x Browning .303 machine guns
Mk.IIb ' 4 x machine guns + 2 x 20mm cannons