{"product_id":"spitfire-in-blue","title":"Spitfire in BLUE","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left; background-color: #f7f8f9; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #647382;\"\u003eThe story of Spitfire Mark XI PL965, one of the cleanest Merlin-powered Spitfires, following its operational history with 16 Squadron in 1945, its role in photo-reconnaissance over Nazi Germany, and its eventual restoration 45 years later.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eCharacteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"table table-striped\" style=\"width: 99.915%; height: 251.222px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN-10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1855326159\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook cover finish(es)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eHardcover ( round back binding ) \u003c\/span\u003eDust jacket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 35.5966px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 35.5966px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 35.5966px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eNOS (NEW old stock)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHugh Smallwood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOsprey Aerospace\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e158\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1996\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 33.3333%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 59.0018%; height: 19.6023px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e22 x 28 x 1.5 cm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eMark XI\u003c\/em\u003e was the cleanest and swiftest of the Merlin-powered \u003cem\u003eSupermarine Spitfire\u003c\/em\u003e variants, tested at Farnborough up to Mach .89.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo outwit German bombers, these aircraft were constructed from components manufactured in small factories and workshops around Reading and assembled at Aldermaston, designed for an unarmed but hazardous role that often took them hundreds of miles into enemy airspace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1945, \u003cem\u003eSpitfire Mark XI PL965\u003c\/em\u003e joined 16 Squadron in Belgium—one of three squadrons acting as the secret eyes of the 2nd Tactical Air Force for the benefit of 21st Army Group during the final assault on Nazi Germany. Over a period of three months, PL965 accumulated 75 hours and 25 minutes on operations, with its 33 sorties averaging nearly 2½ hours each, flown at around 4½ miles above the battlefield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts pilots—Australian, British, Belgian, Canadian, French, and New Zealander—were highly individual airmen, capable of working alone for long periods in unpressurised, cramped, and freezing conditions, without guns or a wingman to protect them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, \u003cem\u003eSpitfire Mark XI PL965\u003c\/em\u003e was transferred to one of Britain’s closest allies to help train a new generation of technicians for the rebuilt Royal Netherlands Air Force, where it eventually became a symbol of liberation at the National War and Resistance Museum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe final chapter in PL965’s life began with a virtual rebirth following a comprehensive restoration by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society Ltd. Forty-five years after its last flight, it lifted its wheels from the runway at Rochester on 23 December 1992.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugh Smallwood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54007009313114,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0270\/3015\/9446\/files\/image1_beac6a1a-9b40-4ad3-b504-deea3f572bea.jpeg?v=1776331905","url":"https:\/\/aviation.brussels\/products\/spitfire-in-blue","provider":"aviation.brussels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}