Supermarine Spitfire

This is the story about one of the world's most efficient fighter planes of World War II. From its conception by the famous British designer R. J. Mitchell, to the time in 1947 when the last Spitfire was made, the immortal Spitfire served to carry on a fine tradition. The Spitfire first flew in the peaceful blue skies of England in 1936. When war clouds loomed on the horizon and finally broke—the Spitfire was among the first to engage the German raiders. They first saw action over the Firth of Forth and later achieved immortal fame during "The Battle of Britain." The origin and achievement of the Spitfire design lies in the story of the Schneider Tro­phy Race. After Great Britain had regained the trophy held at Naples, Italy in 1922, the design staff at the Supermarine Works knew a new aircraft of advanced design would be needed to win the next contest. Reginald Mitchell was at that time chief designer of Supermarine, and from his drawing board came the predecessors of the Spitfire: The S-4, S-5, S-6 and S-6b Schneider Racing Planes. Their story is well known, and so it need not be repeated here. In 1931 Britain retired the Schneider Trophy for the third and last time. Speeds in excess of 400 miles per hour had been achieved with Mitchell's S6-b Schneider Seaplane Racer. Air Ministry officials were quidk to realize that a new design of the most up to date fighter must be produced if Britain was to hold and retain this record. Early in 1934, the Air Ministry issued specification F 5/34 —calling for a new fighter de­sign carrying eight machine guns. The Rolls Royce Company brought out a new 12 cylinder liquid cooled engine. Mitchell knew that this was the engine he had been waiting for, and so he completely redesigned his new projected fighter around this new engine. The idea was well received by the Air Ministry and a new specification number was assigned, F 37/34, to the new aircraft. The number F 36/34 was assigned to Hawkers new aircraft design which became the famous "Hurricane," and flew side by side with the Spitfire during "The Battle Of Britain." Years later when the skies were filled with fighter and bomber aircraft, even the com­mon housewife could pick out the Spitfire fighters overhead by their beautiful elliptical wings. It was believed for sometime that the elliptical wing was more efficient than the common straight taper platform type. Production difficulties were overcome by the Supermarine design staff, and the elliptical wing became a Spitfire trademark. This wingshape was used through­out the war. until the introduction of the Supermarine Spiteful.

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