Spitfire MK-14 British Pursuit-Fighter - Palm Springs Air Museum - Palm Springs, CA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Visitors to the Palm Springs Air Museum might see this fighter aircraft located inside one of two hangers, the African-European Theater Hanger. Near this static aircraft is a placard that reads:

Spitfire British Pursuit / Fighter

PRIME MANUFACTURER:
Supermarine Aircraft, Co., Great Britian. 20,351 Spitfires were produced in 40 different models.

MAJOR ENGAGEMENTS

The story of the "Spitfire" is the story of Britain's War. It fought on every battle front from the Artic waste of Northern Russia to tropical jungles of the Far East, from the green of Europe to the brown of North Africa. The "Spitfire" was a name resounded round the free world in the dark years of Hitler's tyranny, and symbolized the mood of Britain's defiance. In September 1939, the beginning of WW II, Great Britain was short of fighters and pilots to fly them. After France fell, there was a threat of immediate invasion. Churchill's RAF had 704 fighters including the Hurricane and Spitfire. The Germans possessed 1,393 bombers and 1,290 fighters.

Adler Tag (Eagle Day) or (The flight of the Eagles) was the beginning of Germany's attempt to make England surrender. Large forces of fighters escorting bombers began the aerial bombardment of Great Britain. The battle for the air over Britain had begun and 15 September 1940 was considered the "Greatest Day" in that Battle for Britain. The Hurricanes ad Spitfires had shot down 78 aircraft. The Germans believed the British were running out of aircraft, instead, fresh new Spitfires had taken to the air on this particular day. After receiving assurances that they outnumbered a crippled RAF, it was a major shock for the German airmen to meet 300 fighters in the space of 20 minutes. In the summer of 1940, the RAF out fought the German Air Force to change the course of history. On 17 September 1940 Hitler postponed project "Sealion" (the invasion of Great Britain) indefinitely. This resulted in Churchill's famous quote, "Never had so many owed so much to so few."

ORIGIN OF THE SPITFIRE IN THE PALM SPRINGS MUSEUM

The Spitfire in our Museum is a combat veteran of WW II serving with the 414th Squadron, 2nd Tactical AF. A V-1 Buzz bomb heading for England was shot down by this aircraft. In 1950, the aircraft went to Belgium as a trainer and target tug. It was retired in 1957.

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*NOTE* I was told by volunteer staff that many planes and historical items (like this display) often move around inside the hangers and outside on the tarmac, BUT they always stay within the museum, unless they are part of a visiting exhibition. Waymarkers should keep this in mind when searching for a particular waymark that I or someone else has posted on Waymarking.com. If, by chance, you cannot locate a particular waymark within the museum, please let me know and I'll contact the staff and inquire to its whereabouts. Thanks.

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Spitfire MK-14 British Pursuit/Fighter Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Palm Springs Air Museum inside / outside: inside Other Information:: Open seven days a week, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Allow at least an hour-and-half to enjoy the museum. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Feb. 7, 2014 Tail Number: (S/N): Not listed Access restrictions: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   02/25/2016 PeterNoG visited it 09/15/2015 run26.2 visited it 07/13/2014 datenhamster visited it

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