{"id":9192258011387,"title":"Airfix - 1\/24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc - Flying Dray (Includes Glass)","handle":"aira17001a","description":"\u003ch1\u003e1\/24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc - Flying Dray (Includes Glass)\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAirfix AIRA17001A\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcludes all glues, paints and tools necessary to assemble. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, various photographs and stories from pilots’ memoirs have emerged about Spitfires that carried beer barrels. Publications mention a special ‘Depth Charge Modification XXX’. After the D-Day landings, squadrons based at the forward airfields in northern France would send a pilot back across the Channel in a Spitfire to collect some beer or ale in barrels strapped under the wings on modified bomb racks. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObviously, such sorties would have been deemed highly irregular by the RAF’s higher command, so the flights would not have been recorded as such in the pilot’s logbooks. Which leaves little official proof as to the exact details of these ad hoc deliveries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecurring details relating to these escapades frequently turn up in various secondary sources. One example is the involvement of The Henty and Constable Brewery in Chichester and the nearby RAF Ford. To raise spirits, the story was also propagandised by the newspapers of the time, accompanied by some clearly staged photographs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, it’s difficult to determine the full and accurate story or whether the pilots claiming involvement in such missions were instead guilty of not letting the truth to get in the way of a good story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 1944, after the D-Day landings, British troops pressing into Normandy faced fierce resistance—and a dry pint glass. Supplies were tight, and morale was vital. So, in one of the war’s most unexpected missions, Spitfire pilots took to the skies, not just with ammunition, but with beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIngenious airmen modified drop tanks and strapped barrels beneath their wings, delivering much-needed refreshment to parched troops across the Channel. Some called it “Operation Cheers.” These weren’t official missions. They were flights of morale. Spitfires, symbols of British grit, became airborne drays for a brief, glorious period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_attachment\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupermarine Spitfire is probably the most famous British fighter from the Second World War. It was an all-metal machine with a low wing configuration, characteristic elliptical wings, a classic tail and a retractable landing gear. The prototype flight took place on March 5, 1936. The Spitfire proved to be the RAF's staple of the war, which continued to do well after the war, remaining in production for 10 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of the Spitfire began on the drawing desk of RJ Mitchell, Supermarine's lead designer. The first machines went to RAF units in 1938, but when the Battle of Britain began in the summer of 1940, there were already 19 squadrons of modern fighters at the airfields - together with the slightly older Hurricanes of the Islands, 600 aircraft were defending. With the expansion of hostilities, the Spitfire served wherever the RAF operated in the Far East, North Africa and Italy, during the Normandy landings and fighting in France, and finally during the operation in Germany in 1945. For many Britons, he became a symbol of victory in World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wonderful machine has at least a dozen production versions. The most important of them are, among others the first mass-produced Spitfire Mk.I powered by a 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine. It was above all this machine that made such an excellent contribution to the Battle of Britain. Many versions of this model have been developed, including PR Mk IA (reconnaissance version) or PR.IG (armed reconnaissance version). Another interesting version was the Spitfire Mk.V with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine with 1440HP. Later, Merlin 50 engines were also assembled. Serial production of this version started in 1941 and was the RAF's response to the appearance of the Messerschmitt Bf-109F. Another very successful version is the Spitfire Mk.IX, powered by a Merlin 61 engine with a 4-blade propeller. It was created as an opponent to the Focke-Wulf Fw-190 and was put into production at the end of 1941. This version was modified many times and, for example, in 1944 it got a new gyro sight, an enlarged rudder or a different wing system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother major version is the Spitfire Mk.XIV with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 engine and a five-bladed propeller. Serial production started in October 1943. One of the last series produced was the Mk.21 version. This version had a Griffon 61 engine, a strongly reinforced structure and sheathing, the wings were extended, increasing their flying surface. Mass production started in March 1945. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnical data (Mk.XIV version): length: 9.14m, wingspan: 11.23m, height: 3.05m, maximum speed: 717km \/ h, rate of climb: 18.5m \/ s, practical ceiling: 13,200m, range maximum: 1815 km, armament: fixed - 4 7.7mm machine guns and 2 20mm Hispano Mk II cannons, suspended - up to 225 kg of bombs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","published_at":"2025-12-16T08:47:51+02:00","created_at":"2025-12-16T08:47:50+02:00","vendor":"Airfix","type":"Scale Model Kits","tags":["Brand_Airfix","Category_Aircraft","Scale_1\/24 Scale","Type_Propeller Aircraft"],"price":329995,"price_min":329995,"price_max":329995,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":47774451532027,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"5063129048419","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Airfix - 1\/24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc - Flying Dray (Includes Glass)","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":329995,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":null,"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix---1-24Supermarine-Spitfire-Mk-IXc---Flying-Dray.jpg?v=1765867672","\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayResin.png?v=1765896734","\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayGlass.png?v=1765896734"],"featured_image":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix---1-24Supermarine-Spitfire-Mk-IXc---Flying-Dray.jpg?v=1765867672","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":40290461319419,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.851,"height":718,"width":1329,"src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix---1-24Supermarine-Spitfire-Mk-IXc---Flying-Dray.jpg?v=1765867672"},"aspect_ratio":1.851,"height":718,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix---1-24Supermarine-Spitfire-Mk-IXc---Flying-Dray.jpg?v=1765867672","width":1329},{"alt":null,"id":40291347300603,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.599,"height":938,"width":1500,"src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayResin.png?v=1765896734"},"aspect_ratio":1.599,"height":938,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayResin.png?v=1765896734","width":1500},{"alt":null,"id":40291340386555,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.599,"height":938,"width":1500,"src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayGlass.png?v=1765896734"},"aspect_ratio":1.599,"height":938,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/jixhobbies.co.za\/cdn\/shop\/files\/Airfix-1_24SupermarineSpitfireMk.IXc-FlyingDrayGlass.png?v=1765896734","width":1500}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003e1\/24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc - Flying Dray (Includes Glass)\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAirfix AIRA17001A\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExcludes all glues, paints and tools necessary to assemble. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, various photographs and stories from pilots’ memoirs have emerged about Spitfires that carried beer barrels. Publications mention a special ‘Depth Charge Modification XXX’. After the D-Day landings, squadrons based at the forward airfields in northern France would send a pilot back across the Channel in a Spitfire to collect some beer or ale in barrels strapped under the wings on modified bomb racks. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObviously, such sorties would have been deemed highly irregular by the RAF’s higher command, so the flights would not have been recorded as such in the pilot’s logbooks. Which leaves little official proof as to the exact details of these ad hoc deliveries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecurring details relating to these escapades frequently turn up in various secondary sources. One example is the involvement of The Henty and Constable Brewery in Chichester and the nearby RAF Ford. To raise spirits, the story was also propagandised by the newspapers of the time, accompanied by some clearly staged photographs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, it’s difficult to determine the full and accurate story or whether the pilots claiming involvement in such missions were instead guilty of not letting the truth to get in the way of a good story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 1944, after the D-Day landings, British troops pressing into Normandy faced fierce resistance—and a dry pint glass. Supplies were tight, and morale was vital. So, in one of the war’s most unexpected missions, Spitfire pilots took to the skies, not just with ammunition, but with beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIngenious airmen modified drop tanks and strapped barrels beneath their wings, delivering much-needed refreshment to parched troops across the Channel. Some called it “Operation Cheers.” These weren’t official missions. They were flights of morale. Spitfires, symbols of British grit, became airborne drays for a brief, glorious period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_attachment\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupermarine Spitfire is probably the most famous British fighter from the Second World War. It was an all-metal machine with a low wing configuration, characteristic elliptical wings, a classic tail and a retractable landing gear. The prototype flight took place on March 5, 1936. The Spitfire proved to be the RAF's staple of the war, which continued to do well after the war, remaining in production for 10 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of the Spitfire began on the drawing desk of RJ Mitchell, Supermarine's lead designer. The first machines went to RAF units in 1938, but when the Battle of Britain began in the summer of 1940, there were already 19 squadrons of modern fighters at the airfields - together with the slightly older Hurricanes of the Islands, 600 aircraft were defending. With the expansion of hostilities, the Spitfire served wherever the RAF operated in the Far East, North Africa and Italy, during the Normandy landings and fighting in France, and finally during the operation in Germany in 1945. For many Britons, he became a symbol of victory in World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wonderful machine has at least a dozen production versions. The most important of them are, among others the first mass-produced Spitfire Mk.I powered by a 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine. It was above all this machine that made such an excellent contribution to the Battle of Britain. Many versions of this model have been developed, including PR Mk IA (reconnaissance version) or PR.IG (armed reconnaissance version). Another interesting version was the Spitfire Mk.V with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine with 1440HP. Later, Merlin 50 engines were also assembled. Serial production of this version started in 1941 and was the RAF's response to the appearance of the Messerschmitt Bf-109F. Another very successful version is the Spitfire Mk.IX, powered by a Merlin 61 engine with a 4-blade propeller. It was created as an opponent to the Focke-Wulf Fw-190 and was put into production at the end of 1941. This version was modified many times and, for example, in 1944 it got a new gyro sight, an enlarged rudder or a different wing system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother major version is the Spitfire Mk.XIV with a Rolls-Royce Griffon 61 engine and a five-bladed propeller. Serial production started in October 1943. One of the last series produced was the Mk.21 version. This version had a Griffon 61 engine, a strongly reinforced structure and sheathing, the wings were extended, increasing their flying surface. Mass production started in March 1945. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnical data (Mk.XIV version): length: 9.14m, wingspan: 11.23m, height: 3.05m, maximum speed: 717km \/ h, rate of climb: 18.5m \/ s, practical ceiling: 13,200m, range maximum: 1815 km, armament: fixed - 4 7.7mm machine guns and 2 20mm Hispano Mk II cannons, suspended - up to 225 kg of bombs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e"}