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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17. Aerial rivals
Ian Butler, left, hands Clive Rickards a Messerschmitt Me 109E model for display with a model Spitfire on the Shrewsbury Model Centre stand at Shrewsbury Flower Show in 1984. The Messerschmitt was, of course, the Spitfire's great adversary during the Battle of Britain. | Shropshire Star
18. Shake on it
The car is nice, but the planes are magnificent. Pilots of 131 Squadron are at Atcham airfield with Spitfires in the background. 131 Squadron was based at RAF Atcham in the autumn of 1941 and the photo is from that time. The squadron had a flight of Belgian pilots who would go on to form the RAF's first completely Belgian fighter unit. Two of the airmen seem to be shaking on a deal, to buy the car perhaps - the Spitfires were not for sale. | Andre Bar
19. Standing guard
Some planes were destined to end their lives as "gate guardians" at RAF bases. This Spitfire, with clipped wings, was at RAF Bridgnorth, which didn't even have an airfield, being a recruit training centre. Does anybody know what happened to this aircraft when the base closed? | Bob Hanley
20. Italian job
Wartime Spitfire pilot Ken Sykes, of Shrewsbury, with his aircraft near Florence in 1944. He was in the Desert Air Force with 208 Squadron, flying tactical reconnaissance and photographic missions, mostly in Italy, but later over Austria and Yugoslavia. They were armed missions in Spitfires with clipped wings – removing the ends of the wings improved the Spits’ rate of roll. On the wall of his Shropshire home, in a frame, was a medal – the American Distinguished Flying Cross – together with the citation. It told how, on September 17, 1944, Flying Officer Sykes was flying a tactical reconnaissance mission in the La Spezia area of Northern Italy and, under a continuous barrage of anti-aircraft fire, flew low to photograph a suspected turntable for a railway gun and a tunnel entrance nearby, which was successfully bombed as a result. | Ken Sykes