Mark XVI Spitfire at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

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Date:1986 - 2004 (c.)

Description:Photograph of the Spitfire, which has been on permanent display at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery since 1986.

Designed by local engineer Reginald Mitchell in the 1930s, the Spitfire was instrumental in Britian gaining air supremacy over Germany during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

About the Spitfire at the museum

This Spitfire is a Mk XVI. A late model Spitfire (commissioned in 1945), it has a copy of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine built by Ford [Packard] under licence.

It flew in the European theatre, but never saw action.

It was part of Number 4 squadron, which was reconnaissance.

It had two flying accidents in 1945.

It was converted to a Mk IX for a show, then back to a Mk XVI.

It was a Gate Guardian at Beicester near Oxford before being handed over to the city of Stoke-on-Trent in 1969.

It was originally housed in a glass house opposite Hanley Library, but moved in 1986 when it was found to be suffering from metal fatigue.

It is now housed in The Potteries Museum, Hanley, and is under going restoration from Supermarine Engineering in Burslem.