British history’s most iconic plane is the Spitfire. This single-seat fighter airplane was first used by the Royal Airforce before the Second World War.
IWM Duxford explains that the plane’s distinctive features include its elegant curves, elliptical wings, powerful Rolls Royce engines, and is a British icon ever since it was used in the Battle of Britain.
Because of its unique wing design, it was intended to serve as an interceptor for short ranges and high performance.
Despite having fewer pilots than the Hurricane during the Battle of Britain (1907 to October 1940), the Spitfire was viewed by the general public as being the most important fighter of the RAF.
Because of their superior performance, Spitfires had lower attrition rates and higher victories-to-loss ratios than Hurricanes.
This is why the Spitfires often had to engage Luftwaffe fighters in the Battle of Britain. They were frequently up against Messerschmitt Bf 109E aircraft, which was a very close match.
Pictured: Supermarine SPITfire MkI fighter aircrafts, equipped with the fixed-pitch, wooden propeller, of No 19 Squadron Royal Air Force Fighter Command, wait in line to participate in a training exercise at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire on May 4, 1939.
First Spitfire in operation was Mk Is K9789. It entered service with 19 Squadron, RAF Duxford, August 1938.
They were famously known during the Battle of Britain, when they were mostly tasked with taking down German fighters. The slower Hurricanes were then used to kill the bombers.
There were many Spitfire sub-variants and 24 Spitfire marks during their lifetime. These covered the Spitfire in development from the Merlin to Griffon engines, the high-speed photo-reconnaissance variants and the different wing configurations.
Spitfire Mk Vs produced more than any other model, 6,487, then the 5,656 Mk IXs.
According to current estimates, there are 54 Spitfires in service around the globe. Mark 1 Spitfire serial number K9942 is the oldest surviving Spitfire. It’s kept in Shropshire at the RAF Museum Cosford.
This aircraft was the 155th to be built. It flew first in April 1939. The No. 72 Squadron RAF, until June 1940.