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