80th anniversary of the Spitfire – over 12,000 were built in Castle Bromwich

The Spitfire, most famous British fighter aircraft in history, first took to the skies on 5th March 1936 and won immortal fame throughout the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks during the Battle of Britain.

In 1938, the Air Ministry bought a site consisting of farm fields and a sewage works next to Castle Bromwich Aerodrome.

Production commenced at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory in June 1940 and ended in 1945 – a total of 12,129 Spitfires were built.