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On March 6, 1936, history was made when the Spitfire prototype, K5054 made its maiden flight with great success.
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In June, 1936, the government placed an order for 310 Spitfire aircraft to be constructed. This was the largest order that had ever been given to a manufacturer at that point.
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Early pilots were unfamiliar with the retractable undercarriage, and numerous early accidents were caused by their forgetting to lower the Spitfire's wheels.
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Production of some 40 different variants of the Spitfire took place throughout the war and afterwards. They served in every combat area, operating as fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and carrier-based fighters with the Royal Navy.
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It remained in service with various air forces for many years after the end of the war and the Seafire naval variation was last used in combat by the Royal Navy from the carrier HMS Triumph in the Korean War.
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Spitfire XISX reconnaissance version became the fastest wartime Spitfire with a speed of nearly 460 mph (748 km/h).
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The last Spitfire was built in 1947.
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A total of 20,531 Spitfires in 40 modifications were built. Today, a handful fly in the hands of private owners and with the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
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Hitler hugely underestimated the British forces. The Luftwaffe aimed to wipe out the entire Royal Air Force within a matter of weeks.
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The wide range of targets in the south of England meant that the attacks were diluted.
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Britain had the Spitfire and the Hurricane, which were both fast, agile aircraft with reliable weaponry.
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The Germans were fighting over enemy territory, meaning a pilot was lost as soon as his aircraft came down. The British could parachute to safety and continue to fight..
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The British had radar, the Royal Observer Corps and well organised, fast production of planes.
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The head of British Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshall Dowding, had previously defied Churchill by refusing to send more reserves to the Battle of France or to support the Royal Navy. This was a major factor in victory in the Battle of Britain.
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The German’s final mistake was to turn their attention to the bombing of major cities, in what was to become The Blitz. This further diluted their offensive and gave the RAF time to recuperate.
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It is suggested that the RAF were just 24 hours from defeat when Goering switched tactics and ordered efforts to turn to the cities.
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The Luftwaffe had not been designed to wage an independent air campaign, but to give close support to fast moving ground offensives. This meant German bombers were too light, and fighters too short-ranged, for the Battle of Britain.
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| Battle of Britain day: Friday 15th September on The History Channel. Click here> |
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| Put your fighter skills to the test with our sensational Spitfire game. Play> |
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| Get up close and personal with the Supermarine Spitfire. More> |
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