The Spitfire was the most famous of the Commonwealth fighters of the Second World War and the only Commonwealth fighter to be in production from the war’s beginning to its end. Through its production, the Spitfire went through 24 different versions to suit specific duties and to take advantage of performance enhancements to the Rolls-Royce Merlin and later Griffon engines. Through its production, which began in 1938 and ended in 1947, 20,334 Spitfires (and 1,220 Seafires) were produced. During the war, the Spitfire was active on every major theater of war.

Unlike the Hawker Hurricane, the Spitfire was not produced in Canada, but that did not stop the RCAF from using the Spitfire. There were 14 Spitfire squadrons in the RCAF and many more Canadians flew the Spitfire as members of the RAF. Even after the war, the RCAF kept the Spitfire in service until 1950.

This Spitfire replica has been with the National Air Force Museum since 2004. It was donated by George Weston Ltd. with special contributions from the Canadian Fighter Pilots Association. It is painted to depict Canadian pilot, Wing Commander Lloyd Chadburn’s, Spitfire that he flew during the Second World War while he commanded 127 Wing in the United Kingdom and France. Chadburn was awarded the Distinguished Service Order with bar, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his impressive victories. He was killed in a flying accident during the Normandy Campaign at the age of 25.