1/48 Hobbymaster (HA7103) Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV (RM656 / DL+F) flown by French pilot Jean Marie Maridor (4 kills & 11 V1's) 91 Sqdn R.A.F. Aug.3 1944 (Limited Edition of 1751)

1/48 Hobbymaster (HA7103) Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV (RM656 / DL+F) flown by French pilot Jean Marie Maridor (4 kills & 11 V1's) West Malling, 91  Sqdn R.A.F. Aug.3 1944 (Limited Edition of 1751)

This is previously owned Model with some Cardboard Box Damage and Tears.

The first V1 chasing Spitfires from the 150 Wing just didn’t have enough speed to catch the missiles so when the XIVs became available the 91 Squadron was one of three assigned to the task. The thing to remember was to stay at least 150 yards away from the V1 if you are going to shoot it down; even then there was a risk of hitting flying debris or flying into burning rocket fuel. On August 3, 1944 Jean Marie Maridor, a French pilot flying with the RAF was on duty in his XIV and chasing a V1, a “Diver” as they were referred to. When he determined that the missile was headed for a military hospital he decided he had one chance to make sure the missile didn’t reach its target. He flew his Spit well within the 150 yards and opened fire. His bullets ripped through the V1 igniting it and sending molten metal in every direction. Unfortunately the explosion tore Maridor’s Spitfire apart killing him. Mission accomplished, the hospital was spared but at a great loss of a fine pilot. The remains of Maridor’s body were found outside the hospital that he had just saved. He was 24 years of age and due to be married 7 days later on August 10, 1944. Jean had accumulated a record of 4 confirmed kills, 2 more probables and 3 damaged. He also destroyed 11 V1s and sank 20 vessels. He had been the recipient of 7 medals including the DFC.