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Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Spitfire, the iconic fighter which fought against the Germans during the Battle of Britain and kept the nation and many other countries safe during the war.
A flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Spitfire's first flight has taken place over the Hampshire coast.
The first prototype, K5054, designed by RJ Mitchell, took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome on 5 March 1936.
A Spitfire flew over Southampton Water and the site of the Supermarine factory in Woolston, where thousands of the World War Two fighters were made.
Southampton Airport managing director Dave Lees said the plane "continues to enthral people today".
The plane took off from the airport shortly before 12:00 GMT having been delayed by cloudy weather conditions.
It retraced the route taken by the prototype 80 years earlier, heading along the Hampshire coast to Portsmouth before returning to Southampton Airport.
Spitfire route
Image caption
The Spitfire retraced the route of the 1936 prototype
The plane overflew Mitchell's grave at South Stoneham Cemetery, the site of the Woolston factory and onwards to Portsmouth Harbour.
During World War Two, with the Spitfire proving critical, the Supermarine factory was targeted by the Luftwaffe to destroy production facilities.
Spitfire 80th anniversary event at Southampton AirportImage copyrightAndrew Matthews/PA Wire
Image caption
Air cadets performed a guard of honour for the Spitfire
Members of the local Air Cadet Squadron performed a guard of honour for the Spitfire as it was wheeled out of the hangar at Southampton Airport, on the same site as the old Eastleigh Aerodrome.
Among the guests was one of the engineers during the aircraft's heyday, Gordon Monger, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, and his wife, Judy, the daughter of one of the designers Ernest Mansbridge.
Mr Monger, 90, said: "It doesn't seem real to me after all these years. It still looks as marvellous to me as it did all those years ago."
A second Spitfire flypast over Mayflower Park in Southampton, organised by Solent Sky Museum, took place later on Saturday afternoon.
The Supermarine Spitfire
Spitfires at Imperial war MuseumImage copyrightPress Association
Designed by RJ Mitchell, the prototype Spitfire Spitfire K5054 was developed from the Schneider seaplanes and powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine. It took off from Eastleigh Aerodrome, now Southampton Airport, on 6 March 1936.
After Mitchell died in 1937, his successor Joe Smith developed the fighter to make it faster and more powerful. Mk1 Spitfires entered RAF service (with No 19 Squadron) in August 1938.
With its combination of speed, manoeuvrability and firepower, it proved to have the decisive advantage fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain.
It also played a key role in the air battle for Malta and providing air cover for the D-Day landings in 1944.
Come on Dakka, show the mMaiden of the Skies some love!
Free from GW's tyranny and the hobby is looking better for it
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The Spitfire is an incomparable icon of manned flight and the profession of arms both.
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
Somewhere there is a video when 16 flew in formation over Duxford. Impressive as!
You do hear a Rolls-Royce merlin coming. It's a sweet engine.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/03/05 20:54:55
Sgt. Vanden - OOC Hey, that was your doing. I didn't choose to fly in the "Dongerprise'.
"May the odds be ever in your favour"
Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
I have no clue how Dakka's moderation work. I expect it involves throwing a lot of d100 and looking at many random tables.
FudgeDumper - It could be that you are just so uncomfortable with the idea of your chapters primarch having his way with a docile tyranid spore cyst, that you must deny they have any feelings at all.
You do hear a Rolls-Royce merlin coming. It's a sweet engine.
Not really I suppose. My ears don't hear Merlin engines, my heart does.
I was in the bottom of a tower block when the Battle of Britain flight flew right over at low altitude, it was a local landmark by far the tallest building in the area so that is why it directly overflew us. I wasn't expecting it, not thinking of it and had nineteen stories of concrete between me and the source of the noise. But I knew exactly what it was even though I am not the most attentive of people. I managed to get out the building before the sound became much louder and saw the flight overfly me. Stirring. Its a sound that speaks to the soul, once you know the sound of a Merlin, it never leaves you. There is no mechanical sound in all the world alike to it in it's effect.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/03/05 21:04:24
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
In fact this week we has two legends going, flying Scotsman was out, saw the whole set at York, there very impressive, and huge! Wheels alone must be 6 feet. (That was about a year ago)
Sgt. Vanden - OOC Hey, that was your doing. I didn't choose to fly in the "Dongerprise'.
"May the odds be ever in your favour"
Hybrid Son Of Oxayotl wrote:
I have no clue how Dakka's moderation work. I expect it involves throwing a lot of d100 and looking at many random tables.
FudgeDumper - It could be that you are just so uncomfortable with the idea of your chapters primarch having his way with a docile tyranid spore cyst, that you must deny they have any feelings at all.
You do hear a Rolls-Royce merlin coming. It's a sweet engine.
Not really I suppose. My ears don't hear Merlin engines, my heart does.
I was in the bottom of a tower block when the Battle of Britain flight flew right over at low altitude, it was a local landmark by far the tallest building in the area so that is why it directly overflew us. I wasn't expecting it, not thinking of it and had nineteen stories of concrete between me and the source of the noise. But I knew exactly what it was even though I am not the most attentive of people. I managed to get out the building before the sound became much louder and saw the flight overfly me. Stirring. Its a sound that speaks to the soul, once you know the sound of a Merlin, it never leaves you. There is no mechanical sound in all the world alike to it in it's effect.
Basically, this. Nothing in the world quite beats the sound of a Merlin engine, the graceful arc of a Spitfire soaring across the sky. Graceful, beautiful, stirring, moving, stunning...
The Spitfire was an awesome aircraft, then and now. The Hurricane (a glorious bird in it's own right) may have carried most of the burden during the Battle of Britain, but it didn't have the lasting impact of the Spitfire. The Spitfire would continue to give sterling service well into the 1950s.
The Spitfire was an awesome aircraft, then and now. The Hurricane (a glorious bird in it's own right) may have carried most of the burden during the Battle of Britain, but it didn't have the lasting impact of the Spitfire. The Spitfire would continue to give sterling service well into the 1950s.
Something that niggles with me, as my grandfather worked on the Hurricane!
Saw one flying about a year ago when I was working near MK. Beautiful sight it was, and the sound, oh the sound. And the best thing? It was flanked by a hurricane I believe.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/03/07 11:49:08
The Spitfire was an awesome aircraft, then and now. The Hurricane (a glorious bird in it's own right) may have carried most of the burden during the Battle of Britain, but it didn't have the lasting impact of the Spitfire. The Spitfire would continue to give sterling service well into the 1950s.
Something that niggles with me, as my grandfather worked on the Hurricane!
If you go to Windsor, there is a full size replica Hurricane strafing the central car park next to the railway station. You see it from the train as you approach the castle.
Sir Sydney Camm, who designed the Hurricane, was born in Windsor.
The Hurricane flew and fought for most of the war, though ultimately it was not as upgradable a design as the Spitfire.
If anyone is interested, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, including a Lancaster, Spitfire and I believe a Hurricane, will overfly the Thames Traditional Boat Festival this year, not sure which day yet.
It's also a chance to nostalge about the Dunkirk Little Ships, who do a sail past, and you can see various livery company shallops and the Queen's Row Barge, Gloriana. (I have applied to row Gloriana, but I don't know if I will get the call.)
As much as I like the Spitfire, the Mosquito, that wooden wonder, is my favourite warbird of all time.
"Our crops will wither, our children will die piteous
deaths and the sun will be swept from the sky. But is it true?" - Tom Kirby, CEO, Games Workshop Ltd
We quite often see the BBF from the garden during the summer as we have the Southend Airshow so see them go there and back most times they are present. Also any national celebration where the BBF are flying over Central London sees them gather over Essex for a straight run down the Thames to the Palace, always a nice surprise.
Not the same but these a Vulcan Bomber at Southend Airport, also a very handsome plan. Shame we only ever used it to drop bombs on our own territory!
How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website "
notprop wrote: We quite often see the BBF from the garden during the summer as we have the Southend Airshow so see them go there and back most times they are present. Also any national celebration where the BBF are flying over Central London sees them gather over Essex for a straight run down the Thames to the Palace, always a nice surprise.
Not the same but these a Vulcan Bomber at Southend Airport, also a very handsome plan. Shame we only ever used it to drop bombs on our own territory!
It was totally worth it for the surprise it gave the Argentinians.
Not the same but these a Vulcan Bomber at Southend Airport, also a very handsome plan. Shame we only ever used it to drop bombs on our own territory!
Had the pleasure of seeing XH558 from the comfort of my own back garden about 6 months ago or so. Coventry Airport were having a show and heard and a lot of aircraft flying about. Was intrigued, went out, and then the Vulcan turned up. Didn't land as when I looked it up later on, it's landing gears were a bit dodgy so could only do flyby's. Got to hear the sound it made when it banked close by. Tingled the spine and made me go "Oh yes!"
notprop wrote: We quite often see the BBF from the garden during the summer as we have the Southend Airshow so see them go there and back most times they are present. Also any national celebration where the BBF are flying over Central London sees them gather over Essex for a straight run down the Thames to the Palace, always a nice surprise.
Not the same but these a Vulcan Bomber at Southend Airport, also a very handsome plan. Shame we only ever used it to drop bombs on our own territory!
It was totally worth it for the surprise it gave the Argentinians.
Indeed. Still, there's always "Cold War II: Putin life back in the old gal" to dust her off again.
How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website "
I'm going to have to be a big arse traitor and say I quite like the Bf-109.
I was at a friend's house once and the Dad heard that a couple were going to do a fly past of a local airfield on the way back from an airshow, so he took us to watch.
They flew really low and fast past the airfield cafe and it was an awesome sight. Had a thing for them ever since.
oldravenman3025 wrote: The Gladiator was another British aircraft that gave stalwart service in WWII, despite being outdated.
And quite a few more, though not British. The USSR Yaks might have been crude and inferior compared to Nazi German planes, but they put a lot of them in the air and had a good deal of aces too.
Oh, and if someone talks rudely about there being so few US aces just remember they actually rotated pilots home to teach newbies. And you can't get kills if there's nothing to shoot at. The few German aces with 600+ kills fought from the start to the finish (well, or their death) and never had time to train a wingman beyond "shoot the guy I'm focusing".
oldravenman3025 wrote: The Gladiator was another British aircraft that gave stalwart service in WWII, despite being outdated.
And quite a few more, though not British. The USSR Yaks might have been crude and inferior compared to Nazi German planes, but they put a lot of them in the air and had a good deal of aces too.
Oh, and if someone talks rudely about there being so few US aces just remember they actually rotated pilots home to teach newbies. And you can't get kills if there's nothing to shoot at. The few German aces with 600+ kills fought from the start to the finish (well, or their death) and never had time to train a wingman beyond "shoot the guy I'm focusing".
The person you're searching for is Erich Hartmann, who had 352 Victories, most of which came against those ill-trained and poorly equipped Soviet pilots whilst serving in Jadgeschwader 52.
JG 52 is the highest scoring Fighter Group of all time with over 10,000 victories in total.
As for the Spitfire, it was easily one of the most aesthetically pleasing aircraft of the war, I am glad so many people still admire them all these years later!
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/03/08 05:49:17
Catachan LIX "Lords Of Destruction" - Put Away
1943-1944 Era 1250 point Großdeutchland Force - Bolt Action
"The best medicine for Wraithlords? Multilasers. The best way to kill an Avatar? Lasguns."
"Time to pour out some liquor for the pinkmisted Harlequins"
The Spitfire is simply the prettiest plane that ever shot Germans out of the sky, probably the prettiest warplane that ever flew. In terms of decisive war winning machines it's not up at the top, but that's because war is kind of boring in reality, and its always the workhorses that end up mattering the most.
Spetulhu wrote: Oh, and if someone talks rudely about there being so few US aces just remember they actually rotated pilots home to teach newbies. And you can't get kills if there's nothing to shoot at. The few German aces with 600+ kills fought from the start to the finish (well, or their death) and never had time to train a wingman beyond "shoot the guy I'm focusing".
There was also a much stronger culture of aces among the German pilots. Prestige, and therefore greater resources, went to the units with the best aces, and it led units to focus on aces alone, they'd lead the attacks, score the most kills, and other pilots would protect their ace pilots. It led to big kill counts for their star pilots, but actually reduced the unit's operating effectiveness.
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
sebster wrote: The Spitfire is simply the prettiest plane that ever shot Germans out of the sky, probably the prettiest warplane that ever flew. In terms of decisive war winning machines it's not up at the top, but that's because war is kind of boring in reality, and its always the workhorses that end up mattering the most.
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This is one of the major war winning designs of WW2.
sebster wrote: The Spitfire is simply the prettiest plane that ever shot Germans out of the sky, probably the prettiest warplane that ever flew. In terms of decisive war winning machines it's not up at the top, but that's because war is kind of boring in reality, and its always the workhorses that end up mattering the most.
Spetulhu wrote: Oh, and if someone talks rudely about there being so few US aces just remember they actually rotated pilots home to teach newbies. And you can't get kills if there's nothing to shoot at. The few German aces with 600+ kills fought from the start to the finish (well, or their death) and never had time to train a wingman beyond "shoot the guy I'm focusing".
There was also a much stronger culture of aces among the German pilots. Prestige, and therefore greater resources, went to the units with the best aces, and it led units to focus on aces alone, they'd lead the attacks, score the most kills, and other pilots would protect their ace pilots. It led to big kill counts for their star pilots, but actually reduced the unit's operating effectiveness.
I always thought of the Spitfire and Mustang as racecars given wings. Those engines, man they're just a like a rum and coke for the soul.
Inversely I always thought of the Corsair and and FW as just murder planes. Beautiful in their way and I'll put a Corsair against anything flown by anyone in WWII, but they are murder planes.
sebster wrote: The Spitfire is simply the prettiest plane that ever shot Germans out of the sky, probably the prettiest warplane that ever flew. In terms of decisive war winning machines it's not up at the top, but that's because war is kind of boring in reality, and its always the workhorses that end up mattering the most.
...
...
This is one of the major war winning designs of WW2.
Yep, my grandpa got two blown up under him. merchant marine sailors had the highest mortality rates of nearly anyone who didn't visit a tractor factory in a little town on the Volga.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/03/08 13:47:22
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
sebster wrote: The Spitfire is simply the prettiest plane that ever shot Germans out of the sky, probably the prettiest warplane that ever flew. In terms of decisive war winning machines it's not up at the top, but that's because war is kind of boring in reality, and its always the workhorses that end up mattering the most.
...
...
This is one of the major war winning designs of WW2.
Ah Liberty Ships; where else can you smell freedom, sea air and asbestos in equal measure.
How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website "
Frazzled wrote: I always thought of the Spitfire and Mustang as racecars given wings. Those engines, man they're just a like a rum and coke for the soul.
Well, the design team for the Spitfire did have experience designing racing aircraft, so that should be expected.
The Spitfire and Concorde are two beautiful pieces of engineering.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/03/09 10:15:38
Frazzled wrote: I always thought of the Spitfire and Mustang as racecars given wings. Those engines, man they're just a like a rum and coke for the soul.
Well, the design team for the Spitfire did have experience designing racing aircraft, so that should be expected.
The Spitfire and Concorde are two beautiful pieces of engineering.
The early 1930s supermarine seaplane trials, and various other speed trials involving the beautiful De Havilland comet, were alos big influences on the spitfire's development.
"Our crops will wither, our children will die piteous
deaths and the sun will be swept from the sky. But is it true?" - Tom Kirby, CEO, Games Workshop Ltd
Catachan LIX "Lords Of Destruction" 
