Introduction
By August 1944, the air war over north-west Europe was in a new phase. D-Day was over, but the skies were still busy. Fighters protected ports, convoys, and airfields. They also hunted targets over the Channel and the front lines.
This model represents a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVc, one of the faster Spitfires of the war. It carries the bold black and white invasion stripes used to reduce friendly fire. It also wears the markings of No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron.
Quick facts
Aircraft: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVc
Serial/Code: RM740 / 3W-WI
Operator/Unit: RAF - No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron
Base: Deanland, England
Period: August 1944
Model represented: 1:72 Corgi Aviation Archive AA38707
The Spitfire Mk.XIVc and late-war air fighting
The Mk.XIV was a big step forward. It used the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, which gave it strong acceleration, climb, and top speed. That mattered in 1944, when threats could appear quickly and fights often began with a sudden call to scramble.
Speed was not just about chasing. It helped pilots choose when to engage and when to break away. A faster fighter could climb to height sooner, intercept at the right moment, and return with fuel to spare. In the final year of the war, those small advantages added up.
No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron, Deanland, and RM740
No. 322 Squadron was a Dutch-manned RAF unit. By 1944 it was part of the constant daily effort that kept the air picture under control. That meant patrols, quick reaction alerts, and escort work when needed. Many sorties were routine, but the routine was the point. It denied the enemy freedom to move.
Deanland placed the squadron close to the Channel. That gave pilots fast access to the coastal routes and the approaches to France. The invasion stripes on RM740 link it to the D-Day period and the crowded skies that followed. They were a simple visual fix for a complex problem.
Lasting legacy and collector appeal
The Spitfire is one of the most famous fighters in history, but the Mk.XIV has its own appeal. It looks and feels more powerful than earlier marks, and it represents the Spitfire at its late-war peak. It is still instantly recognisable, but it carries a sharper edge.
For collectors, Corgi AA38707 captures that moment in 1:72 scale. You get the Mk.XIVc shape, invasion stripes, and a clear unit story with No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron at Deanland in August 1944.
