1/144 Hawker Tempest Mk.V Fighter Aces

Mark I Models - 1/144 Hawker Tempest Mk.V 'Fighter Aces'
Description

The Hawker Tempest Mk.V was the RAF's last piston-engined fighter used in the WWII, attaining great success in destruction of the German V-1 flying bombs. Developed in late 1941 from the troublesome Typhoon interceptor, the prototype flew in September 1942. The first order was for 400 Tempests, produced as the Mk.V Series 1 for 100 aircraft by Hawker and Series 2 for 300 aircraft by Gloster, the first aircraft were completed in mid-1943. A further two orders for Hawker-built Mk.V Srs.2 aeroplanes raised the total of the Tempests produced to 801.

It was a single-seat monoplane aircraft, of all metal construction, powered by a Napier Sabre II engine. Dh or Rotol four-bladed propellers were used. It featured a bubble canopy and a retractable undercarriage. The Srs.1 aircraft had four long-barrelled 20mm Hispano cannons in the wings, while the later Tempests had cannons without projecting barrels. The Srs.2 aircraft could also carry 45-gal drop tanks. In its later guise, the Tempest could perform as a fighter-bomber, carrying a wide variety of bombs up to 1000 lbs. From early 1945 it was cleared for rocket firing and combinations of 25lb or 60lb Rp could be carried.

Tempest Mk.Vs were delivered to the Raf and Rnzaf squadrons between April 1944 and July 1945, ultimately equipping nine fighter units and one auxiliary squadron.

During the advance of Allied forces into Germany, ground attacks, close-support sorties and pursuit of Luftwaffe aircraft were the main tasks of the Tempests. After VE-Day the Tempest Mk.Vs soldiered on with seven squadrons of Bafo in Germany, and the last units retained their aircraft until early 1948.


Colour schemes included in the kit:

1 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, EJ578, Sky US-I, No.56 Sq., flown by Flg Off J.J. Payton, Royal Air Force, Grimbergen airfield for B-60, Belgium, September 1944

2 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, EJ762, Sky JJ-F, No.274 Sq., flown by Flt Lt D.C. Fairbanks, Royal Air Force, Volkel airfield for B-80, the Netherlands, October/November 1944

3 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, EJ600, Sky SD-F, No.501 Sq., flown by Sq Ldr J. Berry, Royal Air Force, Bradwell Bay airfield, Essex, U.K., October 1944

4 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, EJ667, Sky W2-D, No.80 Sq., flown by Flg/Off J.W. Garland, Royal Air Force, Volkel airfield for B-80, the Netherlands, December 1944

5 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, NV969, Sky SA-A, No.486 for NZ Sq., flown by Sq Ldr W.E. Schrader for OC No.486 Sq., Royal Air Force, Hopsten Air Base for B-112, Germany, April 1945

6 Hawker Tempest Mk.V for Srs.2, SN228, Sky EDM, No.122 Sq., flown by Wg Cdr E.D. Mackie for OC No.122 Wing, Royal Air Force, Fassberg Air Base for B-152, Germany, May 1945