DESCRIPTION

Hawker Tempest MKV RAF SN330 3 SQN.

The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft, used primarily by the RAF during World War II. Also referred to as the Typhoon II until it was renamed, the Tempest had been developed by Sydney Camm of Hawker Aircraft Limited, entering the war in January 1944. It was to become one of the most powerful fighters of the conflict and certainly was the fastest single engine propeller driven aircraft, excelling as a low altitude interceptor, even against the jet-propelled Messerschmitt Me 262.

Oxford's latest release is a 1:72 scale replica of a Tempest Mk V, which came into service with 3 Squadron after the hostilities ceased. It was deployed across the Channel and in real life - as the Tempest II - incorporated further developments and many improvements over the first wartime batch, which had carried the serial number prefix J. Immediately post-war, and with the serial numbers SN, it was deployed as No. SN330 to RAF Wunstorf in Germany in September 1946, where it was part of the British presence on the Rhine.

This model is painted all-over silver with a green nosecone and spinner and features a black anti-flare shield, walkways and propeller spinner. The cockpit interior is grey and even the exhaust vents are given a rusty brown finish. Carrying its wartime J5H number in green, the additional SN330 serial number is printed alongside the RAF roundel on the under wings and along the fuselage. A final detail incorporates the No. 3 Squadron RAF badge featuring the mythical winged beast on the tailfin.

This model will pair very nicely with the Oxford Tempest Mk V - JF-Z also previously released in the livery of RAF No. 3 Sqn as it served during wartime at RAF Newchurch in 1944. From there it played a key part against the German held Normandy coast. No. 3 Squadron, first formed in 1918, still operates Typhoons today, namely the Eurofighter, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.