Spitfire Mk.IX, EN572, S/L Johnny Checketts, 485 Squadron (NZ) March 1943

This livery depicts the Spitfire of Johnny Checketts whilst he was posted to the 485 Squadron (NZ) RAF as a Squadron Leader in early 1943.


The Spitfire EN568 was the second most successful Spitfire of WW2. Starting off as EN572 of 611 Squadron (Biggin Hill Wing) with Checketts. This Spitfire was a Mk. VC converted to a Mk IX by Rolls-Royce and was powered by a Merlin 61; it was delivered to 611 Squadron in April 1943.[91] When Checketts was posted to 485(NZ) Squadron in July 1943 he took EN572, which became OU-H. While flying EN572 Checketts shot down 13 enemy aircraft, with one probable and six damaged. Checketts was shot down over France in this Spitfire on 6 September 1943, but escaped, returning to England seven weeks later.

John Milne "Johnny" Checketts, DSO, DFC (20 February 1912 – 21 April 2006) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Second World War, who was credited with the destruction of ​14 1⁄2 enemy aircraft, three probably destroyed and 11 damaged.