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I've long wanted to get around to modelling RM637, ever since I did my PR.X as an RAF No.541 Squadron in "Alone Above All". In researching for that piece, I came across the story of how F/L R.F.C. Garvey's won a Bar to his DFC in RM637 and knew I would have to add his aircraft to it. On the 6th of October, 1944 F/L Garvey was photographing Job 773 - Westkapelle Dyke and near Koblenz at only 6500' was at the same time faced with heavy anti aircraft fire. The flak was fortunately inaccurate but after completing his second run he saw two Fw190s above and to the southwest of his position. F/L Garvey immediately opened up his unarmed PR Spitfire's throttle in a climbing turn to the west in an attempt to outrun them. As he made the turn however, he noticed some form of vapour trail from the leading Fw190 which he assumed to indicate methanol injection was being used to boost its power. Indeed, the enemy aircraft was able to close the range to only 700yds, opening fire as he did so. Garvey immediately pushed his Spitfire over into a tight spiralling dive down to zero feet in a desperate evasive manoeuvre but at least one of the Fw190s was able to pursue him downwards. Now flying at zero feet and with throttle still wide open, Garvey pulled another steep turn which again the pursuing enemy aircraft attempted to follow. Part way through that turn however, Garvey needed to evade some trees and while he was able to pull his Spitfire up and over them, the enemy aircraft did not, exploding as it crashed into them. The other enemy aircraft had not followed and was nowhere to be seen so Garvey set course for home. For this remarkable feat of airmanship in downing an enemy aircraft by superior flying skills alone, F/L R.F.C. Garvey was awarded a Bar to his D.F.C.. The events of that day were recorded in the Squadron Record of Operations thus... If that weren't enough reason to build RM627, the following day Garvey was in the thick of it again, in the same aircraft. His mission that day was to take low-level oblique photographs of the barrage on the Rhine River at Kembs, near Mulhouse in Germany, prior to a planned attack by No. 617 Squadron RAF on the night of 7th October 1944. This is the image he captured that day. Copyright: © IWM Remarkably, shortly before taking this image his aircraft had been hit in the tail by flak which jammed its elevators for a short time. He was eventually able to free some movement by "extreme pressure on the stick" and for the trip home "was able to control the aircraft's attitude by throttle," though it flew tail down for the remainder of the sortie. With ultimate professional pride, his report expressed regret this meant the images "would show a slant". So, here's another entry in the unofficial PR Spitfire GB, which is my third Spitfire this year. The last one welcomes the new one to the bench... Work on this one begins tomorrow. Cheers.