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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 During the Battle of Britain, it proved no match for German fighters and was quickly withdrawn from daylight operations and moved to a night-fighter role.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

Hawker Hurricane Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, JAN 1940-MAY 1972, London, Hangar Three/Four, 72/A/1404

The Hawker Hurricane Mk I entered service in 1937 as the RAF's first eight-gun monoplane. During the Battle of Britain Hurricanes were more numerous than Spitfires and shot down over 60% of all German aircraft destroyed.

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

Messerschmitt Me 410A-1-U2

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1943-DEC 1945, Cosford, Hangar Three, 85/A/78

This Me 410 was surrendered to the British in Denmark in May 1945. The history of its service with the Luftwaffe is not entirely clear.

overhead view of twin piston-engined German fighter with grey/blue/black camouflage, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1944-1961, Cosford, Hangar Three, 1998/0214/A

The FW190A-8 was a fighter-bomber version of the ‘Butcher Bird’, and was produced in greater numbers than any other sub-type.

Cockpit view of FW 190. Cockpit is partially stripped but contains some instrumentation., RAF Museum / Iain Duncan / RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Short Stirling Mk III

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1944, Cosford, Hangar Three, 1998/0229/A

This Stirling served with No. 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit, where new aircrew gained the skills to fly heavy bombers. It crashed during a training flight in the Pennines on the night of 18–19 October 1944.

remains of an aircraft's tail section, dark paint and bare metal., (C) RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum

Hawker Tempest TT.5

Aircraft & Exhibits, JAN 1945-1972, In Storage, 72/A/571

The Tempest was one of the last piston-engined front line fighters demonstrating the maximum performance that could be achieved with a piston engine and propeller combination.

Hawker Tempest on display at the RAF Museum, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIE

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUL 1945-OCT 1989, London, Hangar Three/Four, 1995/1012/A

The Spitfire XVI was the last major version of the Spitfire to be powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin before introduction of the Rolls-Royce Griffon powered variants.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI on display at Hendon, RAF Museum

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1945, London, Hangar Five, 85/A/66

The Me163 Komet rocket was deployed by the Luftwaffe in a desperate attempt to combat the Allied strategic bombing offensive during the closing stages of the Second World War. It was the only rocket propelled interceptor ever to be used operationally. It was not as successful as expected, only shooting down nine Allied aircraft for a loss of 14 Komets.

Portside view of Messerschmitt 163 Komet on a white background., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX PM651/7758M

Aircraft & Exhibits, NOV 1945-MAR 1995, In Storage, X001-3441

The Spitfire PR.XIX was the last variant of the aircraft to see service with the RAF. Unarmed, it was designed as a photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

Side view of a Spitfire XIX photo reconnaissance aircraft a, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan