The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service from the beginnings of the conflict in September 1939 through to the end in August 1945. Post-war the Spitfire’s service career continued into the 1950s. The basic airframe proved to be extremely adaptable capable of taking far more powerful engines and far greater loads than its original role as a short-range interceptor had allowed for.
