1/24 Airfix Spitfire Mk Vb

Gallery Article by John Smalbrugge on Nov 11 2010

  Remembrance Day 2010 

 

RCAF Spitfire Mk Vb - 401 Sqn. (Corps of Imperial Frontiersmen)

Time for another submission from "Plastic John" (call sign given by the people from One Stop Hobbies here in Abbotsford, BC) Enough has been said about this old 1/24th scale Airfix kit even though I enjoyed the build I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. The model was built out of the box and hand painted for a change of pace.  All the paints used were from the Humbrol line. 

Now for a bit of the squadron history: 

MOTTO :   

  • MORS CELERRIMA HOSTIBUS  ( Very swift death for the enemy ) 

BADGE:  

  • A Rocky Mountain sheep's head Sable horned 

BATTLE HONOURS: 

  • Battle of Britain 1940, Defence of Britain 1940-44, English Channel and North Sea 1942, Fortress Europe 1941-44, Dieppe,France and Germany 1944-45, Normandy 1944, Arnhem and Rhine. 

    Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

HISTORY: 
The squadron was originally known as No. 1 Fighter Squadron, formed at Trenton on May 17, 1937. The squadron mobilized for war in September 1939 and moved to England on June 9, 1940. In England , they were renumbered as 401 Fighter Squadron on March 1,1941. 401 Squadron was disbanded in Germany on July 10, 1945 and then reformed at RCAF Station St. Hubert as 401 Fighter Squadron (Auxiliary) on April 15, 1946. On September 4, 1952 the title "City of Westmount" was bestowed upon the Squadron. In 1968, the unit was renamed to 401 "City of Westmount" Air Reserve Squadron and in the 1980's was renamed again to its most recent title 401 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron. 401 Squadron was disbanded on June 23, 1996. (borrowed from RCAF Squadrons - 400 Series) 
" IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO SERVE -- PAST AND PRESENT" 

Above is  a photograph of the "Ram" Squadron that I would like you to add to this article if possible.  

Picture was taken at Staplehurst 1943. 

Standing in the rear:      
 
1) Don Kelly, 2) Jack Sheppard, 3) Bill Klersy, 4) Bob Hayward, 5) Art Bishop, 6) Bob Buckles7) LAC Pudge, 8) Jeep Neal
 
Sitting in front: 
1) F/O Evans, 2) F/S Stevens, 3) F/O Bill Tew, 4) Al Studholme, 5) Norman Maybee, 6) Bill McRae7) Keith Hodson, 8) Tex Sanders

Cheers ... "PLASTIC  JOHN"  

John Smalbrugge

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Photos and text © by John Smalbrugge