dewertus
Active member
Spitfire Mk.VB, EP829, flown by Sqn/Ldr John Joseph Lynch, No. 249 Squadron, Malta 1943.
History background.
Lynch was an Eagle Squadron volunteer hailing from California who remained with the RAF after America entered the war. Serving with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron in 1941 and the first half of 1942 he shot down two enemy airplanes (17 April 1941 – Ju-88 (shared); 19 July 1942 – FW-190). Next Lynch was posted to Malta the following November.
In Malta he join to the 249 Squadron RAF. First victories while flying from Malta he record on the 11 th when he shot down a Bf-110 and claimed a Ju-52/3m as a probable on north of the island of Lampedusa. Lynch shared in the destruction of a Ju-88 on 14 December, and three days later he was in one of six Spitfires escorting Beaufighters in an attack on Sicily. East of Cap Passero, the RAF fighters spotted two Ju 88s from LG 1 - L1+RV, flown by Ofw Meyer, and Ltn Hahn's L1+DW. The fighters attacked immediately, with Lynch sharing in the destruction of both bombers, the first of which took him to ace status. First victory in 1943 he record on 7 February (Ju-52). The most lucky period for him was April 1943 – he shot down Ju-88 (7 April), two Ju-52 or SM.82 (22 April), Ca.313 (25 April) and two Ju-52 (28 April). First victim from 28 April was identified as being the 1OOOth enemy aircraft downed by Malta-based aircraft (hence the inscription in front of the windscreen), and for this success he received a congratulatory telegram.
source: http://rafovermalta.blogspot.com/
Having shot down 5.5 enemy aircraft in April alone, and taken his total to six and seven shared destroyed, Lynch was also awarded an immediate, and well deserved, OFC.
Then, with Axis air arms desperately trying to support trapped armies in North Africa, early on 10 May he intercepted a formation of transport aircraft evacuating Tunisia, shooting down a Ju-52/3m and two Cant Z.506Bs, as well as damaging an escorting Me-210. John Lynch received a bar to the OFC for this action.
The American ace continued to lead his squadron during the invasion of Sicily, mainly on escort work. During a Kittyhawk escort to Lentini on the evening of 13 July, three Fw 190s were spotted at 12,000 ft near Catania, and in a brief fight, Lynch shot one of them down to claim his final victory. This took his total to 17 destroyed (seven of them shared), which was the highest score by an American flying the Spitfire during the war. No 249 Sqn was retained for the defense of Malta, and soon afterwards Sqn Ldr J J Lynch transferred to the USAAF in the Mediterranean as a lieutenant colonel, although he saw no further action.
Model
I made this model directly from box (Tamiya kit). For paint I was used as test a acrylic paints issued by Italeri. Wash made using mix of MIG’s mixture: Dark and Neutral Wash. Scratches I made using Humbrol 56 and small, dry brush, exhaust and guns stains were applied using rough, dry brush and Van Gogh oils (Vandyke Brown and Payne's Gray). Decals is a mix of Tamiya (fin flash and roundels) and Kagero Topcolors 23 (s/n and code letters).
History background.
Lynch was an Eagle Squadron volunteer hailing from California who remained with the RAF after America entered the war. Serving with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron in 1941 and the first half of 1942 he shot down two enemy airplanes (17 April 1941 – Ju-88 (shared); 19 July 1942 – FW-190). Next Lynch was posted to Malta the following November.
In Malta he join to the 249 Squadron RAF. First victories while flying from Malta he record on the 11 th when he shot down a Bf-110 and claimed a Ju-52/3m as a probable on north of the island of Lampedusa. Lynch shared in the destruction of a Ju-88 on 14 December, and three days later he was in one of six Spitfires escorting Beaufighters in an attack on Sicily. East of Cap Passero, the RAF fighters spotted two Ju 88s from LG 1 - L1+RV, flown by Ofw Meyer, and Ltn Hahn's L1+DW. The fighters attacked immediately, with Lynch sharing in the destruction of both bombers, the first of which took him to ace status. First victory in 1943 he record on 7 February (Ju-52). The most lucky period for him was April 1943 – he shot down Ju-88 (7 April), two Ju-52 or SM.82 (22 April), Ca.313 (25 April) and two Ju-52 (28 April). First victim from 28 April was identified as being the 1OOOth enemy aircraft downed by Malta-based aircraft (hence the inscription in front of the windscreen), and for this success he received a congratulatory telegram.
source: http://rafovermalta.blogspot.com/
Having shot down 5.5 enemy aircraft in April alone, and taken his total to six and seven shared destroyed, Lynch was also awarded an immediate, and well deserved, OFC.
Then, with Axis air arms desperately trying to support trapped armies in North Africa, early on 10 May he intercepted a formation of transport aircraft evacuating Tunisia, shooting down a Ju-52/3m and two Cant Z.506Bs, as well as damaging an escorting Me-210. John Lynch received a bar to the OFC for this action.
The American ace continued to lead his squadron during the invasion of Sicily, mainly on escort work. During a Kittyhawk escort to Lentini on the evening of 13 July, three Fw 190s were spotted at 12,000 ft near Catania, and in a brief fight, Lynch shot one of them down to claim his final victory. This took his total to 17 destroyed (seven of them shared), which was the highest score by an American flying the Spitfire during the war. No 249 Sqn was retained for the defense of Malta, and soon afterwards Sqn Ldr J J Lynch transferred to the USAAF in the Mediterranean as a lieutenant colonel, although he saw no further action.
Model
I made this model directly from box (Tamiya kit). For paint I was used as test a acrylic paints issued by Italeri. Wash made using mix of MIG’s mixture: Dark and Neutral Wash. Scratches I made using Humbrol 56 and small, dry brush, exhaust and guns stains were applied using rough, dry brush and Van Gogh oils (Vandyke Brown and Payne's Gray). Decals is a mix of Tamiya (fin flash and roundels) and Kagero Topcolors 23 (s/n and code letters).
