Spitfire Mk1 to Mk24 | How Spitfires kept getting better

The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most iconic aircraft of all time. Between 1937 and 1947 over 20,000 of them were built and in those 10 years, Spitfires changed dramatically from the Mk 1 to the Mk 24. More powerful engines, new wing shapes, different armaments, and more were added to the Spitfire in an attempt to maintain its edge over enemy aircraft. The Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied frontline fighter in complete and continuous development all the way through the Second World War.

IWM Duxford has Spitfires from all the way through production, in fact, there are probably more Spitfires gathered together at Duxford than anywhere else in the world. In this episode of Duxford in Depth, Graham Rodgers looks at how the Spitfire evolved by taking us through just a few of Duxford's collection of Spitfires including marks 1, 5, 9, 14, and 24.

Fancy taking the pilot’s seat? Book a private talk and unique ‘In the Cockpit’ experience at IWM Duxford to sit at the controls of an airworthy combat veteran Spitfire Mark 1: https://bit.ly/3rPQe84

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License the footage used in this film: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/1700

Discover our Spitfire gifts: https://shop.iwm.org.uk/c-spitfire-gifts-and-memorabilia

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Science Museum Group. R J Mitchell. 1985-1328Science Museum Group Collection Online. Accessed November 30, 2021. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co64732/r-j-mitchell-photograph-portrait.

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