| The Spitfire was a single-seat fighter plane | | | | Spitfire was retired by the RAF in 1952.Though many |
| manufactured by Supermarine, and designed by R.J. | | | | air museums have static examples, only about 50 |
| Mitchell. Mitchell continued to make modifications to | | | | Spitfires remain airworthy. The RAF maintains some |
| the plane until his death in 1937.The Spitfire made its | | | | Spitfires at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at |
| combat debut came on October 16, 1939. It was | | | | RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire for flying display and |
| used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War | | | | ceremonial purposes.Spitfires have been featured in |
| II and gained immortal fame during the summer | | | | several movies including:The First of the Few (aka |
| months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air | | | | Spitfire) (1942), a British film, starring and directed by |
| attacks during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire and | | | | Leslie Howard, and co-starring David Niven. The |
| Mitchell are often credited with winning the Battle of | | | | movie is based on the true story of R.J. Mitchell, the |
| Britain.A favorite of its pilots, the Spitfire saw service | | | | designer of the Supermarine Spitfire. The title refers |
| during the all of World War II, in all theatres of the | | | | to the words of Winston Churchill who, when |
| war, and in many different variants. There were 24 | | | | speaking of the Battle of Britain aircrew said: "Never |
| marks and many sub-variants for each mark. In fact, | | | | in the face of human conflict has so much been |
| between 1938 and 1948, more than 20,300 examples | | | | owed by so many to so few." Since the film was |
| of all variants were built, including two-seat | | | | made during World War II, it was meant to be |
| trainers.There was also a naval version of the | | | | propaganda, therefore, it has a few |
| Spitfire, called the Seafire. These planes were | | | | inaccuracies.Battle of Britain (1969) starring Michael |
| specially adapted for operation from naval aircraft | | | | Caine. This film, set in 1940, features several flying |
| carriers. There were over 2,000 of these planes | | | | sequences involving Spitfires.Piece of Cake (TV |
| built.Along with the RAF, Spitfires served with most | | | | miniseries) (1987) starring Tom Burlinson. This was |
| of the Allied air forces in World War II, including the | | | | the most watched BBC miniseries in history when it |
| Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Royal Australian Air | | | | aired on the BBC in 1987. The six part miniseries was |
| Force (RAAF), South African Air Force (SAAF) and | | | | based on the novel by Derek Robinson and covers |
| Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The RAAF, | | | | the prewar era from early 1939 to September, 1940. |
| the Royal Indian Air Force and the RAF also used | | | | The series depicts the air combat over the skies of |
| Spitfires against Japanese forces in the Pacific | | | | France and Britain during the early stages of WWII, |
| theatre. The Spitfire was one of only a few foreign | | | | though using several flying examples of late model |
| aircraft to see service with the United States Army | | | | Spitfires in place of the novel's Hawker Hurricanes. |
| Air Forces.After World War II, the Spitfire remained | | | | There are shots of several Spitfires taking off and |
| in use with many air forces around the world. Some | | | | landing together from grass airstrips.Teresa Frady is |
| Spitfires remained in service well into the 1950s. It | | | | webmaster of several art and entertainment sites |
| was the only fighter aircraft that was in continual | | | | including Posterlovers.com, where finding your |
| production before, during and after the war. The | | | | favorite poster, photo or art print is easy. |