Happy Birthday Spitfire!

[[JiF]Lt Gav]

The Spitfire is celebrating it's 70th anniversary of coming in to service!
Where would we be without it?
Bison would be lost for a start, he'd have to run around on the ground like the most of us!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7540305.stm

[[JiF]Djsmg]

I'm suprised that you didn't change the Avatar back to Spitfire for the occasion

[mbm]

Highest props - the Battle of Britain saved the world as we know it...

[[JiF]zougathefist]

Hear Hear - HBD to the Spit.

However, lets not forget the true winner of the Battle of Britain - The Hawker Hurricane



Brought into service a year and a half before the spit, the hurricane was far more numerous than the Spit.
3/4 of all squadrons were equipped with the Hurricane,
during the months June - Sept 1940 the Huricane accounted for nearly 4/5 of all enemy aircraft shot down,
more than ALL other defences combined (AA, other planes, Barrage).
All of this despite it being one of the oldest, slowest and least manouvrable fighters in the battle.

The only VC ever awarded to a fighter pilot went to a Hurricane pilot who shot down an enemy fighter whilst his own plane was on fire and being shot at.
The most kills in the BoB went to another Hurricane pilot, a czech who downed 17 enemy planes. The Hurricane served in all theatres in WWII, Europe (8000+), Russia (3000), Pacific (900+), Africa/Mediterranean (2000+).
The hurricane was also the first RAF aircraft to exceed 300mph, it was better armed , more robust and produced in greater numbers than the spit.
In total over 14000 Hurricanes were produced compared to just over 11000 Spitfires, It remained in service from 1936 to 1947 and was produced 6 different countries, including 1400 made in Canada, It was also used by over 20 different Air Forces around the world.
It was the first Aircraft in the world to be fitted with air-to-ground rockets



The Hurricane was the true winner of the battle of Britain, but was and still is overshadowed by its prettier and more famous 'sister' the Spitfire