Welcome to my listing for a superb, rare and desirable 1/72 Scale Corgi Aviation Archive Supermarine Spitfire MkVIII this is AA31917.

This Spitfire MkVII is one (IMPO) of the most interesting  Spitfires that Corgi have released in the last 20 years, 

A58-497 is marked V-RG,  She is the mount of deputy wing leader Wing Commander Robert Gibbes when attached to 80 Wing RAAF at Satter field Northern territory Australia 1944

Resplendent in SEAC scheme of dark green and Brown with no red on the national insignia to avoid miss identification or worse with Japanese “meatballs” she features grey undersides and is offet with white spinner and leading edges,  she also unlike most RAAF & RAF spits this example has some superb nose art,  A grinning/ snarling sharks mouth and teeth, as well as unit and national markings.

This is a 1/72 release from corgi Limited to just 2610 pieces  this is certificate number 900. 

 

Model is as New 10/10. Box is 10/10. 

 I will consider reasonable offers. 

One of a number of Rare,  limited or interesting releases I'm putting up for sale over the next few days. I will happily combine postage, answer questions or provide additional images International offers welcomed, the E-Bay system used but I can and will quote for other methods if it suits.

 

Spitfire & Bobby Gibbs
Designed by R.J.Michell to meet a British Air Ministry specification, the Supermarine Spitfire first flown on March 5th, 1936. With its combination of beautiful fighter design, the excellent performance of its Rolls-Royce Merlin powerplant and firepower provided by twin cannons and four machine guns, the Spitfire became an unrivalled symbol of victory. The Spitfire had 40 major variants and was built in greater numbers than any other British aircraft of the time. It flew operationally on every front between 1939 and 1945 and was engaged in every one of the Royal Air Force's major actions.
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s. It was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft and was the only British fighter in production throughout the war. One of Australia's leading aces in World War II, the diminutive Bobby Gibbes rose from pilot officer to command No.3 Sq., RAAF, flying 274 sorties and scoring ten and two shared victories during almost two years of service in North Africa. He flew "ET953," marked with his personal letter "V", while CO of the unit, claiming a Bf109 destroyed and a second damaged with it. Subsequently serving with Nos. 250 and 5 Squadrons, "ET953" was written off while still with the latter unit when it stalled on take off after its pilot tried to avoid a gun post at Neffatia on March 2, 1943.

Serving as Deputy Wing Leader to Clive Caldwell, Robert Gibbes achieved no victories in this MkVIII due to the dearth of enemy activity in the area. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in February 1940 as an air cadet and completed flight training that August. In early 1941, he sailed for the Middle East and was posted No.3 Squadron after reaching Egypt; he was to remain with this unit throughout his 2-year combat tour in North Africa. His squadron moved to Syria by July 1941 and began flying P-40B Tomahawks against the Vichy French. Within a week, Gibbes shot down a French-built Dewoitine 520 fighter, to achieve his first victory in aerial combat. When the Syrian campaign ended in September, he returned to the Western Desert to take part in the Libyan campaign and achieved three additional victories before the year's end. After converting to P-40C Kittyhawks, Gibbes became commander of No.3 Squadron in February 1942 and soon shot down two more aircraft. In May, he had to bail out after being shot down by a Ju 88 rear gunner and broke his ankle and fractured his leg upon hitting the ground. With his leg still in a cast, he discharged himself from the hospital and returned to command the squadron 1 month later. On 21 December 1942, he performed an "extraordinary deed of heroism" when he landed his aircraft in rough terrain deep within enemy territory to pick up a downward pilot. Discarding his parachute to make a room in the single-seat cockpit, he lost a wheel on take-off, flew the 190 miles to his home base, and successfully landed. Less than 1 month later, Gibbes was shot down some 70 miles behind the lines and evaded capture for 3 days while walking through the desert to reach Allied patrols. Before his African tour ended in April 1943, he flew 274 operational sorties throughout the Middle East, achieved 10.25 confirmed and 5 probable victories, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Squadron Leader Gibbes eventually returned to Australia and flew Spitfire MK. VIIIs in the Southwest Pacific until the end of the war. After flying for various private concerns after the war, he established Gibbes Sepik Airways in January 1948 and began operations out of New Guinea with surplus war aircraft. For the next 10 years, his airline played an important role in the exploration and development of the Sepik River and central highlands of this area.