Planes

United Kingdom

Spitfire Mk IIb

The Supermarine Spitfire was a British fighter of the WWII era. It was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. Various modifications served as fighters, interceptors, high-altitude fighters, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 20,300 Spitfires of all types were built during the war, including two-seater trainers. Some Spitfires remained in service well into the 1950s.
Spitfire Mk II (Type 329) was basically an earlier Mk I, built at Castle Bromwich, and powered by a 1,175-HP Merlin XII engine with a three-blade constant speed «Jablo» Rotol prop. It combined various improvements made to the Mk I in the first half of 1940, including an improved armour field mod which on the Mk II was installed at the factory. A total of 33 kg (72 lbs) or armour was installed, some of which went into an armoured seat, the rest being used to protect the glycol and fuel tanks. The Spitfire Mk II was used by the RAF in the early stages of the battle for control of the skies over Western Europe.