DEERE'S THIRD'Feightless' FIGHTER

摘要

Recent major servicing has anointed a rare Spitfire in the livery of an aircraft flown by renowned New Zealand ace Al Deere in the Battle of Britain. Work on the BBMF Mk.IIa P7350 was completed under contract by The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill), and it now wears a fresh scheme representing Spitfire Mk.I R6895/ KL-B, KIWI III. Careful research ensured P7's new colours were as accurate as possible. A wartime report from Deere himself sets the scene: "Taking advantage of our height above the enemy bombers to work up a high overtaking speed, thus making it difficult for the protecting enemy fighters to interfere with our initial run in, I led the two sections of Spitfires into the attack. A momentary buffeting as I hit the enemy bombers' slipstream, a determined juggling with the control column and rudder, a brief wait for the range to close, and the right-hand Dornier bomber received the full impact of my eight Brownings. In a matter of seconds, in which time only a short burst was possible, I was forced to break off the attack for fear of collision. It was perhaps just as well, as the 109s were now all around us. In the next few minutes, a frenzy of twisting and turning, I managed quick bursts at three enemy fighters, as singly they passed fleetingly through my line of fire."