Royal
Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph
up to
The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I
34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575
miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various
Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine
guns, for MK's V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning
machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or
a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs.
Designed
by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936.
and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19
squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there
were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in
store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and
developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II
came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into
service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe
especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin
engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named
Seafires. By the end of
production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408
Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a
total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires
in front line use until April 1954.
The Hunting Party (Spitfires) by Ivan Berryman
Depicting Spitfires of No.92 Squadron, which on their first mission
over Dunkirk, encountered six ME109Es and succeeded in shooting down
every one of them! Such actions came to symbolise the spirit of the
92nd Squadron which went on to see intense fighting during the Battle
of Britain and by the end of 1940 had claimed an astonishing 127 enemy
aircraft destroyed. A dramatic and unusual perspective on this classic
aeroplane addition to any collection of Spitfire paintings.
Defence of the Realm by Adrian Rigby A Spitfire Mk1 from No.92 Squadron claims its first Me109.
Signatories: Wg Cdr Patrick Peter Colin Barthropp DFC AFC RAF.
Winter of
41 by Philip West. Heavy
snow during the winter of 1941 often kept pilots and their aircraft
grounded, despite the best efforts of the ground crew. Spitfire G George
- based at RAF Manston and assigned to Flt. Lt. Geoffrey Wellum, could
only resume combat sweeps over northern Europe once the storm had passed
and they were all satisfied the aircraft was safe to fly.
Signed by Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum DFC.
Evening Glory by Philip
West Without doubt the most famous British fighter aircraft. It always
inspired devotion from pilots and mechanics alike – to this very day.
Flight Lt. Geoff Wellum in his 92 Sqn. Spitfire, during an all-too rare
quiet moment, one evening during the summer of 1940 - the height of the
Battle of Britain. The aircraft that inspired devotion from pilots and
mechanics alike, and such statements as - she really was the perfect
flying machine; she hadnt got a vice at all - was also admired by those
on the ground. In propaganda posters and illustrations, the Spitfire
represented Britains defiance and commitment to ultimate victory.
signed by Flt. Lt. Geoffrey Wellum
Depart in Peace by Geoff LeaOn 15th September 1965, the late Jeffrey Quill flew the
old Spitfire VB AB910 into RAF Station Coltishall to be handed over to the
Royal Air Force Memorial Flight and preserved in perpetuity.
Significantly, this was to be virtually the final moment of a thirty-year
association and devotion by Jeffrey Quill to his beloved Spitfire.
After Mutt Summers' initial flight, it was largely left to Jeffrey to help
turn Reginald Mitchell's inspired design into the most famous fighter
aircraft of all time.Jeffrey Quill writes in his book, 'Spitfire, A Test
Pilot's Story', "It had been my business to criticise it and identify
its faults; I had no illusions about it and knew its problems only too
well. Indeed, they had caused me sleepless nights all too often... As I
climbed out of the cockpit of AB910 I had that feeling of sadness, of
bidding farewell to an old an trusted friend."The title of the print comes most appropriately from the
words of Nunc Dimittis, - "Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart
in peace," as AB910 goes into the loving care of the Memorial Flight.AB910 had a long, historic career since being built in
1942 at Castle Bromwich. It was delivered to 92 Squadron whose
letters QJ-J it bore at the time of presentation. Ninety-two Squadron flew
Spitfires throughout the entire war and was also one of the Royal Air
Force's top-scoring squadrons. AB910 was also the aircraft on which
a ground crew WAAF, now Miss Horton, made an unscheduled flight crouched
across the tail. After the war, it was bought by the late Air Cmdre
A. H. Wheeler, CBE, and later by Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft limited, who
completely restored it. This work was carried out almost as a solo
job by Arthur Luscombe at Chilbolton and later the aircraft was based at
South Marston.As shown in this painting, AB910 was fitted with a
Merlin 55M engine from a Seafire III to improve low-level performance, and
a four-bladed propeller, untypical of a Spitfire V, both of which have now
been changed by the Memorial Flight.After a life of more than forty years, AB910 continues
to give pleasure to thousands as it participates in displays during the
summer months. AB910 serves as a permanent reminder of those days of
the 1940s when the flashing, eliptical wings skimmed high and proudly to
bring freedom to the skies. Now, as then, to be a Spitfire pilot is the
dream of small boys of all ages. Indeed, even as one sees and hears
this remarkable machine, inevitably its magic draws us all into its heart
to become part of a legend.It is hoped that this print of a unique occasion in
Spitfire history will serve to propagate that magic, so that succeeding
generations can share in our wonder. Copy No.1 hangs in the R. J.
Mitchell Hall in Southampton, and further copies have been presented to
the Royal Air Force Museum and the Smithsonian Institute.
Authenticated by the late Jeffrey Quill, OBE, AFC, FRAeS.
Pinpoint Navigation by Stephen Brown
There can be few experiences more stirring than the sight and sound of
Merlin powered Spitfires at treetop height. In this print the calm of an
English village is momentarily shattered as Spitfire Vbs of 92 Squadron
flash overhead, having been scrambled to intercept a Luftwaffe raid during
the summer of 1941.
First Light - Battle of
Britain, July 1940 by Philip
West. Another busy start to the day at Biggin Hill in the summer of 1940.
The Battle of Britain is at its height and 92 Squadron Spitfires with
Geoffrey Wellum in G for George, depart under early morning sunlight to
engage a mass of incoming enemy aircraft over the southeast coast. By
the end of 1940 the Squadron was credited with having destroyed 127
German aircraft..
Signed by Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum.
In Defence of Britain by Philip West Spitfires
(MkI) of 92 Squadron out of Biggin Hill in September 1940
are about to take on the enemy during the Battle of Britain. The
aircraft in the background was flown by Pilot Officer Alan Wright - his
list of victories was eleven, three destroyed, two probables, two
possibles and seven damaged.
Tally Ho by Robert Taylor In this classic Robert Taylor painting Brian Kingcome is seen leading
the Spitfires of 92 Squadron in a diving attack into a force of HEIIIs
over the city of London during the height of the Battle of Britain. Brian
Kingcome flew Spitfires operationally virtually without break, right
throughout the war
