Modified for low-level operations to counter Luftwaffe attacks on the south coast, the Griffon-powered Spitfire XIV became the best low-level fighter ofWorld War 2. Squadrons moved to southeastern England to counter the V1 flying bomb offensive, and daring pilots tipped the V1 over with the aircraft's wingtip to disorientate the bomb and became "doodlebug aces." Andrew Thomas also investigates the role played by the modified Spitfire squadrons after the V1 offensive, both in the attack on Germany and after the war in Malaya and Palestine. First-hand stories, photographs and color profiles complete this account of the aces who flew the most powerful Spitfire variant ever built.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
'Long-nose' Spits in Action!:
Mating the Spitfire fuselage with the 2,000 hp Griffon engine produced a series of long-nose Spits which were superb fighting machines. The development of the Mk XII, XIV and XXI Spitfires and the exploits of those Commonwealth aces who flew them are the subject of this fine Osprey title, #81 in their 'Aircraft of the Aces' series. Developed to counter the FW 190, the Mk XII, introduced in April 1943, was optimised for low-level work, soon becoming a major player in the RAF's efforts to stop... more info
Good on statisics:
Does not go into as much detail of the construction, performance, and handling characteristics as I would have wished. Does show cockpit layouts and compares the actual combat record of the plane during all phases of WWII.
