The Spitfire was one of the most successful aircraft series in history: over 20,000 units were built during its production years. The prototype made its first flight on March 5, 1936. The Spitfire quickly became a symbol of the war, especially due to its effectiveness against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain and in the years that followed.

The aircraft had excellent rate of climb and a relatively high maximum speed of about 580 km/h at an altitude of 4,300 meters, but its main advantage lay in its extremely tight turning radius. This allowed the pilot to confidently lure any opponent into a dogfight and come out victorious. The fighter was armed with six 7.7 mm machine guns.