This folder contains a repaint for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIV by Real Air. It shows Spitfire Mk.XIV RM656 DL-F, which was the aircraft that Captain Jean Maridor, of the Free French Air Force, was flying on the 3rd of August 1944, when he was killed while destroying a V1. Jean Maridor was born in Le Havre, France on the 24 November, 1920. He became interested in flying at a young age. He stopped his studies to focus of this new interest. Maridor began to take many courses in flying. He obtained his pilot's licence at 16, making him the youngest pilot in France. In 1939, he joined the French Air Force and received his pilot's wings in September 1939, continuing his training on the Dewoitine D520. He joined a squadron just two days before the French Surrender, only to receive the order to burn his aircraft. After the French surrender, Maridor left to go to England with many other French pilots, where he joined the R.A.F. After training, he began flying with the 615 Squadron on Hurricanes. He scored his first kill on the 14th of October 1941. In february 1942, he tranbsferrd to 91 squadron, flying Spitfires, where he scored a further 8 kills, one of which was Lt Paul Galland, the brother of Adolf Galland, in October 1942.
From June 1944, 91 squadron flew the Spitfire mk XIV and specialised in shooting down the V1's that the Germans started sending over to the UK. Capt Maridor was succesful at this too, shooting down 6 of the Doodlebugs before his final flight on the 3rd of August 1944.
On this day, Maridor intercepted a Doodlebug over Rolvenden around 12:33. Flying towards the bomb, he shot at it at 12:39. Although he hit it, the bomb was only damaged not destroyed. On his second attack, he saw the bomb was heading for Benenden School, which at the time was being used as a military hospital. Knowing that hundreds of lives would be lost if the bomb was to hit, Maridor launched a final attack at 12.43. He approached to less than 50 metres to ensure he would not miss a second time. The Doodlebug exploded this time, but the wing of his plane was caught in the explosion and ripped from the body. The plane crashed beside the lake on the school grounds, killing Maridor just 8 days before his wedding. His fiancée has been quoted as saying he would not have hesitated in his attack on the bomb. He knew that many lives would have been lost otherwise.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paint kit by RealAir.
From June 1944, 91 squadron flew the Spitfire mk XIV and specialised in shooting down the V1's that the Germans started sending over to the UK. Capt Maridor was succesful at this too, shooting down 6 of the Doodlebugs before his final flight on the 3rd of August 1944.
On this day, Maridor intercepted a Doodlebug over Rolvenden around 12:33. Flying towards the bomb, he shot at it at 12:39. Although he hit it, the bomb was only damaged not destroyed. On his second attack, he saw the bomb was heading for Benenden School, which at the time was being used as a military hospital. Knowing that hundreds of lives would be lost if the bomb was to hit, Maridor launched a final attack at 12.43. He approached to less than 50 metres to ensure he would not miss a second time. The Doodlebug exploded this time, but the wing of his plane was caught in the explosion and ripped from the body. The plane crashed beside the lake on the school grounds, killing Maridor just 8 days before his wedding. His fiancée has been quoted as saying he would not have hesitated in his attack on the bomb. He knew that many lives would have been lost otherwise.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paint kit by RealAir.
