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