Fighters of Operation Rutter

Iliad Design,1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Fighter Aircraft of Operation Rutter

The Allies conceived Operation Rutter, an amphibious raid on the French port of Dieppe, in the summer of 1942.

Although the plan was ultimately cancelled and later reborn as Operation Jubilee, the air component reveals much about RAF Fighter Command at this critical stage of the war.

By mid–1942, the RAF’s frontline fighter was the Supermarine Spitfire Mk V, which equipped the bulk of the squadrons committed to Rutter. These included units of the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force, many based on the south coast of England. The Spitfire’s role was to provide top-cover, escorting bombers and protecting the invasion fleet from Luftwaffe intervention.

Supporting them were the rugged Hawker Hurricane IIB and IIC, serving primarily in the fighter-bomber role. Armed with bombs or 20 mm cannon, the Hurricanes were tasked with low-level strikes against coastal defences and transport targets.

Other Aircraft of Operation Rutter

The Douglas Boston and Bristol Blenheim light bombers also required escort, while the Westland Whirlwind twin-engined fighter—though by then fielded in small numbers—was available for ground attack and escort duties with its powerful quartet of 20 mm cannon.

On the German side, Jagdgeschwader 2 and Jagdgeschwader 26 prepared to meet any incursion with the latest Messerschmitt Bf 109 F and G variants, supplemented by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A, which was proving to be a formidable opponent over northern France.

Although Rutter never went ahead, its successor, Operation Jubilee, would see these same aircraft clash in one of the largest air battles of 1942. For the RAF, the Spitfire V was beginning to show its age against the Fw 190, foreshadowing the urgent need for the more powerful Spitfire Mk IX.

One of Iliad Design's latest releases is Fighters of Operation Rutter in 1/48 scale.

Three 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vbs and one 1/48 scale Hurricane Mk.II are covered.

The subjects are wearing Dark Green and Ocean Grey (or Mixed Grey) upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey lower surfaces.

The fighters of Operation Rutter also were painted wth unmistakable identification markings in the form of white stripes on the engine cowlings and horizontal tail planes.

Illiad Designs has supplied scale templates for these white stripes.

Each of the aircraft has a form of individual markings on the engne cowling or fuselage sides.

Intsructions are supplied two A4 sheet in full colour. Four views of the special operation markings and camouflage is included.

The decals are perfectly printed.

Colours and saturation look good too.

This decal sheet from Iliad will be a nice way to customise your 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb and Hurricane Mk.II kits.

Thanks to Iliad Design for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 23 September, 2025
Last updated 24 September, 2025

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