Hawker Typhoon Mk1b

No. 8 in my Lockdown Scale Model Project is the Hawker Typhoon Mk.1b, affectionately known by the RAF pilots as the ‘Tiffie’.

As the RAF's first 400 mpg fighter using the new 24 cylinder Napier engine, the Typhoon was intended as a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor-fighter to replace the Hawker Hurricane and the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. However, its comparative lack of performance at altitude, the price for speed and a rushed engine development, led to the decision in 1943 to focus Typhoon operations primarily on the ground attack role, particularly prior to and following the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

266 Squadron Typhoon RB478 ZH-Q 

Being slightly larger than the Hurricane and Spitfire, the Typhoon possessed great structural strength and its comparatively thick wing section provided large internal capacity for fuel tanks and for the housing of its heavy 4 x 20mm cannon. Together, this made it perfect for ground attack, being able to add external carriage of 2 x 1,000lb bombs or 8 x 3-inch rockets with 60lb of warheads or even drop tanks to extend its range for those special behind the lines missions.

4 x 20mm cannon

This model is of the later Mk.1b variant in the paint scheme of Squadron Leader Ronnie Sheward of No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron, RAF 2nd Tactical Airforce which, together with 17 other Typhoon Squadrons, took part in the D-Day invasion. The squadron was used to attack enemy transport and troop concentrations in the period before D-Day, using 500lb bombs and after the D-Day landings to provide close support for the army, using the 'cab rank' system. This involved aircraft circling over the battlefield waiting for controllers travelling with the troops to make a call for air support.

Invasion stripes on fuselage and wings

In choosing my paint scheme for this model, I moved the clock forward a month, in that Airfix intended it to depict the the squadron flying missions in Holland and Germany between April/May 1944, meanwhile, in recognition of this weekend's D-Day anniversary, I felt the need to include invasion stripes!

Typhoon Mk.1b being refilled and rearmed

Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of Allied aircraft to reduce the chance that they would be attacked by friendly forces during and after the Normandy Landings; a major issue experienced during the Dunkirk evacuation when British, French and Belgian forces could not tell the RAF from the Luftwaffe with obvious consequences! Three white and two black bands were wrapped around the rear of a fuselage just in front of the empennage (tail) and from front to back around the upper and lower wing surfaces. The order affected all aircraft, whose duties might entail overflying Allied anti-aircraft defences, with the exception of four-engined heavy bombers, as there was little chance of mistaken identity.

One month after D-Day, the stripes were ordered removed from planes' upper surfaces to make them more difficult to spot on the ground at forward bases in France. They were completely removed by the end of 1944 after achieving total air supremacy over France.

And the real thing ...

Picture shows 266 Squadron Typhoon RB478 ZH-Q which was S/L Ronnie Sheward's in the summer of 1945

266 Squadron group photo 1945

Squadron Leader Ronnie Sheward is sat centre, front row.

As I've exhausted my supply of aircraft, for the time being at least, next up is something which greatly supported our forces off the beaches and into Europe. Stay tuned ..