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