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Bristol Beaufighter Mk X

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1944-1950, London, Hangar Three/Four, London, Hangar Three/Four, 74/A/13

The prototype flew on 17 July 1939 and the first production Beaufighters were delivered to the Royal Air Force in the following April. The type was the first high performance night fighter equipped with airborne interception radar and successfully operated against the German night raids in the winter of 1940-1941. Later the Beaufighter was introduced into Coastal Command as a strike fighter. Its original formidable gun armament was retained but rockets and torpedoes were added giving it an even greater fire power.

Grey/green camouflaged aircraft with black and white D-day invasion stripes, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Hawker Typhoon Mk. IB

Aircraft & Exhibits, FEB 1944-JAN 1949, London, Hangar Three/Four, 74/A/27

Designed as a replacement for the Hurricane and Spitfire, the Typhoon was the first RAF fighter capable of exceeding 400mph when it entered service in 1941. This speed allowed Typhoons to successfully combat the newer, more capable aircraft coming into German service at the same time, such as the Fw-190, easily matching them at low levels.

The Typhoon has grey/green camouflage on its upper surfaces, and a grey underside. It carries black and white invasion stripes, which were introduced to aircraft just prior to D-Day., Trustees of the RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Supermarine Spitfire Mark Ia

Aircraft & Exhibits, SEP 1940-FEB 1944, London, Hangar Three/Four, 78/A/872

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

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