Spitfire

Spitfire …

Bit of a quiz this time about the Spitfire and what is the earliest example of the use of this name.

The name “Spitfire” will probably be recognised by a very large proportion of the world’s population and correctly identified as the iconic British fighter aircraft of World War ll. It was the creation of R J Mitchell of Supermarine Aviation and the prototype first flew in March 1936. If asked, many people would say that this aircraft – K5054 – was the “first Spitfire” but if part of a pub quiz it might be a trick question as this was not the first use of that name.

We have trawled archives and discovered a photograph of an 0-6-0 steam locomotive built by Neilson & Co. in 1859 for the Redruth & Chasewater Railway in South Cornwall, and reproduce it here. It was taken outside The Steam Engine Inn in Carharrack not far from Redruth. After 90 years serving the mining industry, the line was closed in 1915. Your quest now is to find an earlier use of this name and we would love to hear from you.

We have two Spitfire exhibits in the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum at Flixton. One is a full-size, fibreglass/wood replica survivor from the 1960s film “Battle of Britain”, and the other is a reproduction fuselage based upon the original skin panels and components from the rebuild to flying condition of TD248, a LF Mk XVle variant.

This latter leads to an interesting question. We have the original skin panels mounted around a wooden frame built by members. The flying version has the original internal structure. Which is the real TD248?

Author:: Ian Hancock

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