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Spitfire Fund Brooch

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1940, Cosford, Hangar Two, X006-8819

Lapel brooches like this one, formed from an old penny, were sold to raise money for Fighter Funds. This example was purchased by Mary Avis Taylor, a member of the Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force.

miniature Spitfire brooch mounted on safety pin, © RAF Museum / RAF Museum

'Figaro' Door

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1940, Cosford, Hangar Two, 71/A/221

Flight Lieutenant Ian Gleed flew his Hurricane Mk I throughout the Battle of Britain. He had the wily cartoon cat Figaro, from the Disney film Pinocchio, swatting a swastika, painted on his cockpit door.

Parallelogram-shaped green panel with a hand-painted black and white cat standing on hind legs turned to face a swastika, © RAF Museum

Post Instrument Mark IIC

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1936-1945, Cosford, Hangar Two, 79/I/932

Post Instruments were used in the Second World War by members of the Observer Corps as an aide to assess the height, bearing and location of enemy aircraft.

Side view of a complex instrument made of metal, with a measuring stick fixed in the middle, © RAF Museum

Fighter Fund Jigsaw

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1941, Cosford, Hangar Two, 1986/0962/C

Many products, including toys, were made and sold to raise money for aircraft during the Second World War. A London-based manufacturer created this jigsaw, which has over 200 pieces, for the Hendon Fighter Four Fund.

Mostly completed jigsaw of a poster image advertising the 'Four Fighter Fund', © RAF Museum

Gloster Gladiator Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, AUG 1937-MAR 1948, Cosford, Hangar Two, 74/A/17

The Gloster Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter and the first to feature an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. Deliveries began in 1937, with Gladiators continuing to serve in the early years of the Second World War.

Biplane with propeller and silver body and wings, © RAF Museum

Plotting Block, Friendly Forces

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1939-1945, Cosford, Hangar Two, X008-4179

Plotting blocks and counters were used in Operations Rooms in the Second World War and particularly in the Battle of Britain to track the movements of incoming formations of enemy aircraft.

Wooden triangular prism-shaped block displaying numbers over two rows, with a metal rod topped by a yellow card, © RAF Museum

Plotting Block, Hostile Raid

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1939-1945, Cosford, Hangar Two, X002-6553

Plotting blocks and counters were used in Operations Rooms in the Second World War and particularly in the Battle of Britain to track the movements of incoming formations of enemy aircraft.

Wooden triangular prism-shaped block displaying numbers over two rows: ‘H01’ on yellow cards and ‘40+’ on blue cards, © RAF Museum

Supermarine Spitfire Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, APR 1939-NOV 1971, Cosford, Hangar Two, 72/A/263

More than any other aircraft, the Spitfire has become a much-loved symbol of winning against the odds. Designed by RJ Mitchell, its speed, agility and firepower made it one of the RAF's leading fighter aircraft of the Second World War.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and camouflage pattern, © RAF Museum

Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940-1944, Cosford, Hangar Two, 74/A/16

The Defiant introduced a new tactical concept in two-seat RAF fighter design by concentrating all armament in a four-gun turret behind the cockpit. During the Battle of Britain, it proved no match for German fighters and was quickly withdrawn from daylight operations and moved to a night-fighter role.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and black wings and body, © RAF Museum

Ministry of Aircraft Production Plaque

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940, Cosford, Hangar Two, X004-4347

This plaque was presented to the Wolverhampton Express and Star Fighter Fund by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to commemorate the purchase of Spitfire Mk Vb AB917 ‘The Inspirer’ which served with No. 401 Squadron.

Rectangular plaque with inscription in black and red text, © RAF Museum