The Supermarine Spitfire arguably remains the most iconic fighter
aircraft ever produced. Unsurprisingly, it has become a symbol of
British excellence and national pride.
Interest in the Spitfire remains undiminished as time goes on, and its
bibliography is virtually infinite. while many of these books feature
the technical and operational history of the Spitfire, this book
features the human element of the story, concentrating on the stories of
not only those who flew the Spitfire into battle, but also the men and
women who maintained and built it.
By the summer of 1941, the Spitfire had replaced the Hurricane as the
RAF's front-line fighter, seeing service in every theater of war, from
north-west Europe to the Far East, and operating in many roles never
envisaged by its gifted, yet tragic, designer, R.J. Mitchell. Although
intended as a short-range daylight interceptor, Spitfires became
dive-bombers, offensive escort fighters, night-fighters, photographic
reconnaissance mounts - and more.
R.J. Mitchell, however, was always very conscious that a human being
would risk his or her life flying his creation - and this book
concentrates on that human story.
Covering the Spitfire's design, development and wartime operational
history, Spitfire Faces features photographs from the personal
collections of survivors, collated as the result of the author's close
personal relationships and friendships with so many of them.
