Spitfire Blank Birthday Card – 19 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I by Aircraft Artist Charles J. Thompson GAvA

The public affection for the Spitfire can be seen to have started with the aircraft’s entry into squadron service when the first aircraft arrived at RAF Duxford to join 19 Sqn on 4th August 1938. Commanded by Sqn Ldr Henry Cozens, the very first Spitfire to reach Duxford was K9789. This historic aircraft, painted here, was to remain in front-line service until 1941. From here she went to 61 OTU and in 1943 was relegated to a static airframe at a technical training school. She was finally scrapped in 1945.  the first Spitfires had numerous features which would quickly disappear from Mk.I’s of later batches including two-bladed propeller, flat-sided canopy and a pair of guns that protruded past the leading edge of the wing. The Spitfire had arrived though. Today, happily, numerous Spitfires, including a Mk.I still fly from Duxford.