Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I-XVI in R.A.F., S.A.A.F., R.A.A.F., R.N.Z.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Foreign Service

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Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I-XVI in R.A.F., S.A.A.F., R.A.A.F., R.N.Z.A.F., R.C.A.F. and Foreign Service (Aircam Aviation 4)

By E.R. Hooton

Publisher: Osprey Publishing 1971 56 Pages

ISBN: 0850450039

PDF 8 MB

The basic design of the Spitfire was finalised by R. J. Mitchell in 1934. While the aircraft has often been com­pared with other famous types of World War II. it must be remembered that its true contemporaries were the Hurricane. P-36, and Messerschmitt Bfl09. and that the Fwl90, Mustang, and others, were designed three to six years later.

The success of the Spitfire was due to several factors. When used in its intended role as a defensive fighter, its performance was always equal to, and often superior to that of its opponents. Notable examples were the Battle of Britain, the defence of Malta, and the defeat of the Japanese over Northern Australia and the India/Burma border. The aircraft was also a delight to fly. and its adaptability was quite remarkable. Therefore it remained as the supreme Allied single-seat fighter and photo-reconnaissance aircraft until 1944. Even later, it could out-manoeuvre many jet fighters and had a higher limiting Mach number in the dive than most until the F-S6.