Desk model spitfire all in solid aluminum in a highly polished silver finish. The legendary Spitfire fighter plane was introduced in 1936. The short-range, high-performance, single-seat aircraft gained notoriety in defense against Luftwaffe attacks during the Battle of Britain in 1940. As a mainstay of the royal air force fighter command its speed and maneuverability were essential to carrying out its missions across the European and south-east Asian WWII theaters. The Spitfire was beloved by pilots, and in its many variants, it served as a trainer, interceptor, the fighter-bomber, and carrier-based fighter during the 1939-45 conflict. Its iconic status among enthusiasts has held strong in the ensuing years since its retirement from active service in the 1950s.