Spitfire II

The Supermarine Spitfire II, assembled at the Castle Bromwich facility, entered service in early 1941 as the first production model to benefit from the refined Merlin XX engine. Built under the urgent wartime programme, the Castle Bromwich works—originally a motor‑car factory converted to aircraft production—became the largest single source of Spitfires, delivering over 12,000 airframes by war’s end. The Mark II featured a 1,030 hp Merlin C engine, a strengthened wing structure, and an improved armament of four 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannons plus two .303 Browning machine guns, providing a lethal combination of speed and firepower. Its elliptical wing, a hallmark of the design, offered exceptional lift‑to‑drag ratios, allowing top speeds of 360 mph at 20,000 ft and excellent maneuverability in dogfights. The aircraft’s role in the Battle of Britain and subsequent European operations cemented its reputation as a decisive fighter. The Castle Bromwich‑built Spitfire II demonstrated the industrial capacity of Britain to mass‑produce a sophisticated monoplane, influencing post‑war jet development and remaining an enduring symbol of Allied air superiority. Today, examples of the Castle Bromwich‑built II can be seen in air‑show teams and museum collections worldwide, where they continue to inspire new generations of pilots and engineers with their timeless elegance and performance.