The Museum’s ‘Fighter Four’ display in London’s a unique collection of the four principal single-seat fighters engaged in the Battle of Britain, each a genuine survivor of that conflict.
Supermarine Spitfire Mark IA [78/A/872]
A genuine survivor of the Battle, this Spitfire flew with No. 609 Squadron. Its pilot, Pilot Officer JS Hill, claimed a half share in shooting down a German Junkers Ju 88 on 21 October 1940.
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Hawker Hurricane Mark I [72/A/1404]
The Hawker Hurricane Mk I entered service in 1937 as the RAF’s first eight-gun monoplane.
Following service with No. 607 Squadron during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, this Hurricane operated with No. 1 Squadron RCAF on convoy patrols over the Clyde approaches in Scotland during the Battle’s later stages
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Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/B ‘Emil’ [78/A/624]
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the Luftwaffe’s principal fighter aircraft during the Battle of Britain.
This Bf 109E, flown by Lieutenant Wolfgang Teumer, was shot down by a No. 66 Squadron Spitfire and force-landed at RAF Manston on 27 November 1940. It was repaired using parts from other shot-down Bf 109E’s and test flown by RAF pilots to gain information about its advanced capabilities. This is one of only a few original Messerschmitt Bf 109Es in existence.
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Fiat CR42 Falco (Falcon) [78/A/952]
Designed by Celestino Rosatelli, the Italian Fiat CR 42 was the last single-seat biplane fighter to be manufactured by any Second World War combatant.
In October 1940, this CR 42 served with the ‘Corpo Aereo Italiano’. It force-landed at Orford Ness on 11 November 1940 during an Italian air raid on Harwich. The pilot, Pietro Salvadori, was taken prisoner and his aircraft was later repaired and tested by the RAF. It is one of only two intact, original CR 42s in existence.
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