Spitfire and Manchester

Spitfire and Manchester

Photo 1 is a starboard side ground view of a Spitfire.
Photo 2 is a starboard side ground view of a Manchester.

Two b/w photographs on an album page

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[Photograph]

Supermarine Spitfire.
The Spitfire was the most important British fighter from the beginning of the War, & was steadily improved in performance & fire power without any loss of manoeuvrability. The appearance of the FW 190 in the autumn of 1941 caused the R.A.F. to further upgrade the Spitfire with a Merlin 60 engine, a move which enabled it to deal effectively with the FW 190. In total 20351 Spitfires were built. They were exported to the Commonwealth Countries & to Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, U.S.A., U.S.S.R. Sweden, Ireland & the Netherlands.

[Photograph]

Avro Manchester Mark 1.
Powered by two Vulture engines. The Manchester made its first night attack on Germany on the 24/5th. February 1941, only a fortnight after the introduction of the Short Stirling. Bomber Command persisted with it for sixteen months despite it being underpowered & prone to engine failures. Phased out & redeveloped with four Merlin engines as the Lancaster.