Furlan wrote in post #16055341
Sort of off topic but if it wasn't for that plane and the pilots who flew them there would be no
England today. You guys wouldn't be here posting always remember that.
It is a bit simplistic putting all the glory on the Spitfire and it's pilots. there were many contributing factors to winning the war, and many machines and other services that were involved.
The time when England was most at risk of invasion, during the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire's role wasn't as great as many people think as there still weren't that many in service. The Hurricane was responsible for shooting down far more enemy aircraft than the Spitfire during those few weeks, due to it's much greater numbers.
Overall, Hitler would have had no trouble invading England a couple of years later, if it hadn't been for the Russians tying up the majority of the German forces on the Eastern Front. It is often ignored that the huge majority of German losses in WW2 were to the Russians (some 75% or more) and that if all those German troops had been available to fight the British, American, Canadian (etc) forces in the west, the war would have ended very differently.
I am not putting down the role of the RAF pilots in WW2, or that of the Spitfire, they played a very important part. I just don't feel that our victory can be placed squarely on that aircraft. There were many capable aircraft in the hands of allied pilots and I don't think it can be said that without the Spitfire, we would have lost. I do believe that, without "The Few" RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain, England would likely have been invaded in 1940 however.
Overall though, Hitler's plans for European (and world) domination were foiled by brave people from many countries, using a varied range of weapons. We owe them ALL a great debt.
I agree there are times when you can "challenge" convention but IMO it requires the right sort of subject and the PP.
I think some of the fashion shoots of Twiggy in the '60's used this methodology???
