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