The Spitfire Essay

1081 Words3 Pages

The Spitfire was a well-known British aircraft due to its success during the Second World War, which began on September first, 1939 and ended with an Allied victory on September second, 1945. Allied success began with the Battle of Britain, an air battle in 1940 lasting more than three months in the skies above the United Kingdom in which the Allies first gained air superiority over Germany. This dominance was largely due to the Supermarine Spitfire and was the catalyst that started the widespread use of the Spitfire by many Allied air forces. The Spitfire was used by many different countries, including Canada, America, and Australia, and in many different theatres across Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The Allies owe …show more content…

However, upon arriving in the United Kingdom, the Americans were made aware that their P-39s and P-40s were unsuitable for aerial combat in Europe, and they were soon fitted with squadrons of Spitfires instead. In March of 1942 British and Canadian Spitfires arrived from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle to save Malta, a small strategic island in the Mediterranean located about 80 kilometers south of Sicily, right in the Axis shipping lanes to Africa. The Allies fought off months of continuous attacks until the Germans and Italians launched one final ten day blitz on Malta in October. The result was another Allied victory, having downed over 1500 German and Italian aircraft for only 800 lost Spitfires over the 7 month Siege of Malta. Meanwhile, Russia was being overwhelmed by the German forces on the eastern front, so Churchill and Roosevelt decided to invade Rommel’s Afrika Korps in Morocco and Algeria on November 8th, 1942 to divert some of Hitler's attention and forces away from Russia. Six British and two American Spitfire squadrons were used during this invasion and over the ensuing months as they pushed Rommel’s forces back through North Africa. With the victory of the Siege of Malta, the Allies were able to shoot down aircraft and sink ships that were en route to reinforce Rommel’s Afrika Korps. This caused a lack in supplies and reinforcements which forced Rommel to surrender to the Allies on May 12th, 1943, leading to the imprisonment of 267,000 Axis

Show More
Related

  • The History and Uses of the P-51 Mustang

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    P-40’s. North American Aviation realized that the current aircraft were not adequate for the newer German fighters. Instead of providing less than capable aircraft to the war effort, North American presented a request to Britain, allow them to create a new, original aircraft that exceeds the Luftwaffe armament. The British decided to allow for the new program and thus the P-51 “Mustang” was born.

    Read More

  • The Fokker Eindecker During World War One

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.

    Read More

  • the battle of britain

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    ”Battle of Britain, in World War II, a series of air battles between Great Britain and Germany, fought over Britain from Aug. to Oct., 1940. As a prelude to a planned invasion of England, the German Luftwaffe attacked British coastal defenses, radar stations, and shipping. On Aug. 24 the attack was shifted inland to Royal Air Force installations and aircraft factories in an effort to gain control of the air over S England. Failing to destroy the RAF, the Germans began (Sept. 7) The night bombing, or blitz, of London. Heavy night bombings of English cities continued into October, when the attack was shifted back to coastal installations. The Germans gradually gave up hope of invading England, and the battle tapered off by the end of October. Though heavily outnumbered, the RAF put up a gallant defense; radar, used for the first time in battle by Britain, played an important role. The Germans lost some 2,300 aircraft; the RAF 900. The Battle of Britain was the first major failure of the Germans in World War II, and it thwarted Hitler's plan to force Britain to accept peace or face invasion” (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia).

    Read More

  • The Airplane's Impact in World War One

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    World War One was known as the war that would end all wars. At first, airplanes in the war were thought to have just little combat use. An unknown British general even commented, " The airplane is useless for the purpose of war." In the beginning of the First World War, the airplanes were pretty simple and raw. By the end of the war, aircraft had become more advanced and had split off into fighters, bombers and long-range bombers. The specifications of the airplanes were changed to meet the war's requirements. When the War started in August of 1914, British airmen were associated with the British army and their commissioned officers had army ranks. Before the United State’s declaration of war in 1917, American nationals had enlisted in British and French air services including the Lafayette Escadrille. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, the Royal Flying Corps no longer prevailed and was absorbed into the recently developed Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force now had its own command structure away from the army and provided its own ranks.

    Read More

  • Bombers of World War II

    1864 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bombers have been around since the start of the 20th century during World War I. However, strategic bombings became more popular and used form World War II on. The bomber plane had evolved since World War I. Many bomber planes that were bi-planes, meaning the plane had two main wings on both sides instead of one. They also used dual engines. The Germans, however, used the zeppelins which were big targets for fighter planes and the design was not continued after the war.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Normandy

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War II began on September 1, 1939. It all started when Hitler wanted to expand his territory, and he had planned to invade Poland on this day. Then two years later in 1941 Japan bombed America in which is known as Pearl Harbor and General Eisenhower entered America into World War II. America then joined the Allied powers and helped fight against the Axis powers. The major countries that took part as the Allied Powers in World War II was the United States of America, Great Britain, France, and Russia.Their main goal was to stick together and to defend each other from the attacks of the Axis Powers. The Axis powers consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan.General EIsenhower had been planning an attack on the beaches of Normandy in France.

    Read More

  • World War 2 Turning Point Essay

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    This was to prepare for a ground invasion called Operation Sea Lion. “Eagle-day” is then planned to be begun by the Germans, which is a continued destruction of the RAF and a plan to install radar. However, this is delayed with poor weather conditions. Bombing continues in Britain, but the RAF are not yet defeated. They defend themselves aggressively, destroying at least 104 German aircrafts with a continued defeat of 330 German aircrafts. The British are constantly killing thousands of German troops, and Hitler eventually postpones Operation Sea Lion, with a new interest in dominating Russia. From both sides of the battle, more than 3,000 aircraft were destroyed; 1,023 from the British side, and 1,887 from the Luftwaffe. 544 RAF command pilots died, and 2,500 Luftwaffe aircraft were killed. During the relentless bombing known as “The Blitz”, 40,000 British citizens tragically died in the process. Britain had a much higher advantage in the war, due to its high performing navy, compared to Germany’s non-existing navy due to losses in Norway. If the Germans never gave up on this battle and won, the United States would probably become involved much deeper in the war. The Battle of Britain officially ended on October 31,

    Read More

  • Battle of Britain

    1752 Words  | 4 Pages

    The people of Great Britain were bracing themselves for the attack. The Royal Air Force had lost about one thousand airplanes fighting in Norway and France, leaving them with only 470 aircraft in early June 1940. By the time the Battle of Britain began in July, the Royal Air Force was equipped with about 650 aircraft and had 1253 pilots, many of which had very little training. This was opposed to the Luftwaffe’s 2075 aircraft and pilots who had experienced war before. These numbers are one reason the British pilots are often referred to as “the few”.

    Read More

  • The World War II: Air War

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...

    Read More

  • The Battle of the Atlantic

    1647 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the fall of 1931, the Atlantic Ocean was the boiling point of a criminal battle between the British and Germans. Most people think that the Battle of the Atlantic may have decided World War II’s outcome. This battle was the dominating factor throughout the war. The Battle of the Atlantic was a violent and destructive battle. Many people lost their lives fighting in this battle. New technology was one of the major factors in the Allies winning the long and crucial Battle of the Atlantic.

    Read More

  • The Zeppelins

    430 Words  | 1 Pages

    When the British went to war with Germany on August 4, 1914, they fully anticipated that the skies over England would soon be a swarm with the giant Zeppelin bombers. The Germans used the Zeppelins as a great advantage over England. By 1914, six Zeppelins and one Schütte-Lanz had been placed in key positions along the borders of Germany (The Giant Airships, 2). “The thing itself is not very safe”, said Navy Minister, Admiral Alfred von Tripiz (The Giant Airships, 3). The most successful raid by Zeppelin was the one on London on September 8, 1915 killing 22 people and causing one and a half million pounds of property damage. This done by the L 13 commanded by 32 year old airship ace, Lieutenant Heinrich Mathy. This one raid eventually accounted for almost two thirds of all of the Zeppelin damage inflicted upon Britain during Germany’s short lived air campaign. Mathy was later killed in the war when his Zeppelin was taken out of the sky by a British fighter (WorldWar1.com, 1). The L-30 appeared in 1916 and raided London and other cities in England as well as targets on the Eastern Front. Six hundred and forty-nine feet in length, seventy-eight feet in diameter and ninety feet high was the L-30. Able to carry five tons of bombs, packing ten machine guns for defense and cruising at 60 miles per hour made the L-30 a great airship for the Germans in World War I (American Aviation, 1)

    Read More

  • History Of The 82nd Airborne Division

    1816 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the World War II there was many different aspects on the Allies side that helped them defeat the Axis Powers. One crucial aspect for the Allies was the well-built airborne divisions. The 82nd Airborne Division, from the United States Army, was considered to be the firmest and most successful division during the Second World War. After being reactivated for World War II, the men of the 82nd Airborne division took on intense training to later on take part in some of the most dangerous missions of World War II.

    Read More

  • Why Britain Won the Battle of Britain

    4021 Words  | 9 Pages

    the Germans for the first time in the war. The Battle of Britain was a

    Read More

  • The Few By Alex Kershaw Book Report

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the summer of 1940, World War II had been in progress for nearly a year. Adolf Hitler was victorious and planning an invasion of England to seal Europe’s fate. Everyone in the United States of America knew it. The Germans were too powerful. Hitler's Luftwaffe had too many planes, too many pilots and too many bombs and since Hitler was Europe's problem, the United States claimed to be a neutral country (Neutrality Act of 1939). Seven Americans, however, did not remain neutral and that’s what this book is about. They joined Britain's Royal Air Force to help save Britain in its darkest hour to fight off the skilled pilots of Germany's Luftwaffe in the blue skies over England, the English Channel, and North Europe. By October 1940, they had helped England succeed in one of the greatest air battles in the history of aviation, the Battle of Britain. This book helps to show the impact of the few Americans who joined the Battle of Britain to fight off an evil that the United States didn’t acknowledge at the time. The name of Kershaw’s book was inspired from the quote, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to sow few,” which was said by British Officer and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Royal Air Force in World War II

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though Japan attacked the US directly, the primary focus of the war was the threat of Germany. The United States Army Air F...

    Read More

More about The Spitfire Essay

Open Document