The Spitfire - iconic, legendary, and this year celebrating its 90th anniversary. Because it was back in 1936 that the Supermarine Spitfire made its maiden flight.
It was a weapon of war, and just four years after it first flew it took on the might of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, an aerial conflict which changed history. The exploits of the Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons made Hitler think again as he drew up his invasion plans.
Shropshire had its part in the Spitfire story. Some were based here, some were even made here. Hundreds were made at Sankey’s in Hadley during the war.
To mark the anniversary let’s bring you a selection highlighting some of Shropshire’s Spitfire links as well as some of the heroes who flew them.
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5. A chat by a Spitfire
Sir Richard Leighton, left, with an unidentified American airman, probably at Atcham airfield, which was taken over by the Americans during the second part of the war. Sir Richard's RAF role involved liaising with the new occupants at RAF Atcham. The pair are standing by a Spitfire. Dick Leighton, as he was known to his colleagues, knew all about air combat, having served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One. He was shot down in 1917 and severely wounded. He would recover from his injuries, but spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. | Sir Michael Leighton
6. Take a look at this beauty
Wing Commander G Ellams points out details of a Spitfire to some of the 126 members and families of the Royal Air Forces Association who visited RAF Cosford on April 16, 1967. As the aircraft is mounted on a stand it clearly was not in flying condition. | Shropshire Star
7. Women who kept the RAF flying
The quality isn't perfect, but there's plenty of historic value to this picture which shows WAAF girls at RAF Rednal, near Oswestry, pictured in 1944 with a Spitfire. Marked with a cross is Miss Margery Lamb, who was later Mrs Margery Rosser and who loaned this picture. She told us the girls pictured were all flight mechanics. Large numbers of women served as WAAFs - that is, members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, the women's branch of the RAF - during the war. | Marjery Rosser
8. Polish hero
Adam Wojda was a Spitfire pilot who would later settle in Whitchurch. Here he is in the cockpit of his Spitfire Vb, which has five kills marked up. Zbigniew "Adam" Wojda had graduated as a fighter pilot in Poland in 1939, and escaped to England to continue the fight after the German invasion of his homeland. He was soon in combat with the RAF, and after one engagement in which his plane was seriously damaged was forced to ditch in the English Channel. | Adam Wojda