Celebrating the Spitfire and Hurricane

The Supermarine Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire – top ten facts

 

1

The Spitfire prototype’s first flight was on March 5, 1936, from Eastleigh airfield near Southampton.

 

2

Duxford-based 19 Squadron was the first RAF unit to receive a Spitfire Mk.I (K9789), after it was delivered to the station on August 4, 1938. The first familiarisation flight was made seven days later by 19’s CO, Sqn Ldr Henry Cozens.

 

3

Armament for the Spitfire Mk.I comprised eight Browning .303 machine guns, but a limited number of airframes received cannon, and these became known retrospectively as the Mk.Ib.

 

4

The Mk.Vb AB450 was converted to create the prototype for the first HF Mk.VII, which was a high-altitude fighter with a supercharged engine. It commonly had extended wingtips.

 

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