It's the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, so Elliott is taking a look back to his 2013 visit to Thinktank where he saw a Spitfire and Hurricane hanging from the ceiling of the museum. Sptifire's were built at Castle Bromwich, while Hurricane's over at the Austin motor car factory in Longbridge. The Battle of Britain started in September 1940.

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Spitfire and Hurricane at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum





It's the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, so Elliott is taking a look back to his 2013 visit to Thinktank where he saw a Spitfire and Hurricane hanging from the ceiling of the museum. Sptifire's were built at Castle Bromwich, while Hurricane's over at the Austin motor car factory in Longbridge. The Battle of Britain started in September 1940.


September 2020, marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain. Which took place over the English Channel between the RAF and the Luftwaffe. The official dates of the battle was the 10th July until the 31st October 1940. Did you know that many of the planes that fought in the battle were built right here in Birmingham!

The Supermarine Spitfire were built by Vickers Armstrong in Castle Bromwich. While the Hawker Hurricane at the Austin motor car factory in Longbridge.

 

Photos below taken on a visit to Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum during April 2013.

Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX

The Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX was built in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. The planes were built between 1938, and throughout the Second World War of 1939 to 1945. Vickers Armstrong had built over 11,000 planes there. The Spitfire was the most famous British fighter plane of the Second World War.

This plane was labelled HK A and ML 427. And could be seen above the Move It section of the museum (at the front) from the balcony views of We Made It.

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Behind the Spitfire was the Hurricane.

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Hawker Hurricane Mark IV

To the back was a Hawker Hurricane Mark IV. This plane was known for shooting down over 60% of enemy aircraft during the 1940 Battle of Britain. Around 300 Hurricane's were built at the Austin motor car factory in Longbridge in Birmingham. The Hurricane ended up being overshadowed by the more famous Spitfire. They were built from 1937 until 1944.

This plane was to the back and wasn't as easy to see as the Spitfire. Labelled JX R. With 395 at the rear end.

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hawker Hurricane Mark IV" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hawker Hurricane Mark IV Thinktank (Apr 2013) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.