The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.II first flew in September 1939, entering Squadron service in time to help win the Battle of Britain alongside the RAF's Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I and Hawker Hurricane fighters, it was powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin XII coupled to a Rotol constant speed three-blade propeller, a total of 920 aircraft were produced. In October 1939 the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.II had the first of many victories, shooting down two Junkers Ju-88s over Rosyth. It is of interest to note that the Supermarine Spitfire's 300 round ammunition belts were nine yards in length, often a young pilot returning from an operational sortie would enthusiastically describe an aerial combat by saying "I gave him the whole nine yards", hence the popular phrase "The Whole Nine Yards". Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa (type 329) Specifications: Crew: Pilot only Engine: Single 1,175 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII Liquid-cooled V12 Length: 29ft 11in Height: 11ft 5½in Wingspan: 36ft 10in Maximum Weight: 6,172 lb Range: 395 miles Maximum speed: 354 mph at 17,554 ft Service ceiling: 37,600 ft
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