Corgi AA33904 Supermarine Spitfire Mk I Diecast Model RAF No.54 Sqn, "Kiwi", Alan Deere, RAF Hornchurch, England, May 1940

Corgi AA33904 Supermarine Spitfire Mk I RAF No.54 Sqn, "Kiwi", Alan Deere, RAF Hornchurch, England, May 1940

Pilot Officer Alan Deere flew this aircraft and used it to shoot down a Bf109E on May 24th, 1940, and a Bf110 on May 25th. These actions were in support of the Dunkirk evacuation. Deere was credited with seven victories, including one shared, one unconfirmed, and one damaged, all in just five days. Unfortunately, on July 9th, 1940, the aircraft was shot down by II./JG51 over the Channel. Its pilot, Pilot Officer A. Evershed, was killed, along with another pilot flying a different Spitfire from No.54 Squadron. Al Deere suffered minor burns after being forced to land near Manston P9398.

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk I was designed by R.J. Michell in response to a British Air Ministry specification. It first flew on March 5th, 1936. Thanks to its beautiful fighter design, excellent performance from its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant, and firepower from twin cannons and four machine guns, the Spitfire became a symbol of victory. There were 40 major variants of the Spitfire, and it was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the time. Between 1939 and 1945, it flew operationally on every front and was involved in all of the Royal Air Force's major actions.