The Story of the Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire, an aeroplane that was the ultimate symbol of defiance in the battle of Britain during World War 2, helped reverse the Allied fortunes. With a Rolls Royce engine and dual cannon/machinegun armament, it was fast and manoeuvrable, at the cutting edge of RAF fighting designs and was a key component in the struggle against Hitler’s elite force, the Luftwaffe. When Hitler started amassing a formidable aerial army, the British started to panic about possible motives and the prospect of another war, in which for the first time, the principal battles would be fought in the air. As a result, more than 23,000 Spitfires were built and it was the only Allied fighter to remain in production throughout the duration of the war. The plane fulfilled diverse roles - tactical fighter-bomber, fast interceptor and high and low level reconnaissance missions. This documentary combines dramatic archival film, from the 1930s and 40s, of the Spitfire in action, with colour footage of surviving models in flight. Aeroplane enthusiasts, and particularly those interested in war planes, should enjoy the historical visuals and informative narrative on this disc.