To mark the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings, the replica of an iconic British aircraft was put on display by the Imperial War Museums at London Bridge station: a Supermarine Spitfire.
Our replica #Spitfire has travelled all the way from @IWMDuxford to take up residence at @NetworkRailLBG, just a few yards away from HMS Belfast.
#HMSBelfast led the fleet supporting British and Canadian assaults on Normandy beaches, opening fire at 5.27am on D-Day. #DDay75 pic.twitter.com/LJCsOR6MDW— Imperial War Museums (@I_W_M) May 31, 2019
The Spitfire, built by the British manufacturer Supermarine, is without a doubt one of the most recognizable fighters of the Second World War. The aircraft, which made its first flight in 1936, was an important contributor to the victory of the Battle of Britain. Fast and agile, it was the perfect interceptor against the dreaded fighters of the Luftwaffe.
Later on, it would also be tasked with taking down the V1 rockets, the first cruise missiles of history. It was also the first fighter to take down a Messerschmitt Me-262, the first jet-powered fighter aircraft.
The Spitfire once again took part in a major battle on June 6, 1944, as it was used in the bombing raids that supported the landings of Normandy.
The aircraft served until the middle of the 1950s in the Royal Air Force, and way into the 1960s in other foreign air forces. Over 20,400 were built in a variety of models.
Commuters will be able to take a closer look at this part of British history until June 9, 2019.