Supermarine Spitfire XVIThe Spitfire XVI, basically, is a Spitfire IX equipped with the American version of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine produced by Packard, the Merlin M. 266.The two engines were not interchangeable and each required its own set of tools to meet English standards for the RR and American standards for the Packard. This version was designed for low altitude.The Otaki model of the Mk VIII which has been modified using the bubble canopy from the Airfix Spitfire 24. The wings have been shortened.The decoration comes from the rabiot box or was painted. It represents a Spitfire XVIE (TD 253) assigned to RAF 345 Squadron (GC 2/2 Berry) on April 14, 1945. Although wearing French roundels, the Berry aircraft are still officially British and are an integral part of the RAF. French squadrons will not be released from their obligations to the RAF until the beginning of November 1945.