#4, Supermarine Spitfire: Saved Britain, Literally
In the summer of 1940, the Supermarine Spitfire stood between Hitler and the invasion of Britain. During the Battle of Britain, Spitfires and Hurricanes together shot down enough Luftwaffe aircraft to force Hitler to postpone Operation Sea Lion indefinitely. But it was the Spitfire that captured the imagination, its elliptical wings, Merlin engine howl, and graceful lines made it the icon of British resistance and one of the most celebrated machines in aviation history.
Over 20,351 Spitfires were built across 24 marks, evolving from a 1,030-horsepower Mk I into the 2,050-horsepower Mk XIV that could catch V-1 flying bombs. That adaptability is what made the Spitfire extraordinary, it entered service in 1938 and was still competitive in 1945. Pilot training programs across the Commonwealth churned out thousands of Spitfire pilots, and the aircraft served in every theater of World War II. For sheer historical significance, no fighter comes close.
