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Inside the Archive #4 | The Spitfire
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The all-metal, single-seat Spitfire – with its iconic, elliptical wing – became a symbol of Allied defiance during the Battle of Britain. Technically though, its success was due to its exceptional manoeuvrability at altitudes above 15,000 feet, allowing it to gain the upper hand against the German’s also-outstanding Messerschmitt BF 109.
Altogether, 20,351 were built in 40 major variants, of which 656 were delivered to the RAAF.
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So anticipated was its arrival in 1942, Australia allocated the Spitfire the serial A58 and named it Capstan – after a popular cigarette – to keep its debut secret. These fighters operated with Nos. 79 and 85 Squadrons and the redeployed Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons, together with Spitfires from the British RAF Nos. 54, 548 and 549 Squadrons.
If you want to see one for yourself, the Temora Aviation Museum has the very last Spitfire acquired by the RAAF. Best of all, A58-602 (pictured above) is still airworthy and is painted in the green and grey camouflage worn by aircraft defending Darwin during World War II and in operations in the south-west Pacific.
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