Spitfire fighter-bombers – The iconic fighter was surprisingly effective in other roles

Spitfire Mk XVIs, like this example (TE311) operated by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAF BBMF), were used principally as fighter-bombers during the latter stages of WW II in Europe. (Photo by John Dibbs/Facebook.com/theplanepicturecompany)

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“The first time I saw my lean Spitfire with two bombs hanging under its slender wings, I decided that I was never going to be crazy about this phase of our work. The Spitfire seemed to be intolerably burdened with her load, and the ugly, blunt bombs were a basic contradiction of all the beauty and symmetry of the aeroplane.”—Wing Commander “Johnnie” Johnson, Spitfire Wing Leader (later Air Vice Marshal Johnson CB, CBE, DSO &...

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