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Aircraft of the Battle of Britain
Defenders
  Hurricane Mk 1
This wooden-framed, canvas-covered fighter entered service in 1936 becoming the first monoplane in the Royal Air Force. It packed an offensive wallop of eight machine guns. The Hurricane was responsible for the lion's share of the defense during the Battle of Britain and accounted for more enemy aircraft destroyed than its more glamorous cousin, the Spitfire.

  Spitfire Mk II
The Spitfire joined the RAF in 1938 and went on to become one of the legendary aircraft of World War II. During the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire was typically delegated the task of attacking the bombers' fighter escorts while the Hurricanes took on the bombers themselves. The Spitfire was fairly evenly matched with its German counterpart - the Messerschmitt 109 - with victory in their duels based on tactics and pilot skill.

Attackers
  Heinkel HeIII
This bomber entered service in the early 1930s disguised as a commercial passenger liner and saw its first combat in the skies over Spain during the Spanish Civil War. It took on the lion's share of the bombing responsibilities during the Battle of Britain. The Heinkel entered the battle plagued by the misguided German belief that its speed alone was enough to protect it against fighter attacks. This soon proved to be erroneous.

  Junkers Ju 88A
The Ju 88 was the newest and fastest bomber in the German arsenal at the time of the Battle of Britain. However, it suffered from a lack of defensive weaponry and armor. Although it faired better than the Heinkel and Dornier, its combat losses dictated serious changes in its design.

  Messerschmitt Bf 109E
The Messerschmitt 109 was tested and perfected in combat during the Spanish Civil War and in the German conquests of Poland, the Low Countries and France. Its appearance in the skies over Britain was wrapped in a mystique of invincibility based on its previous battle experience and a carefully orchestrated German propaganda campaign. In addition to wing-mounted machine guns, it sported a cannon in the spinning hub of its propeller giving the nimble fighter devastating fire-power.

  Dornier Do 17
Introduced at the same time as the Heinkel, the Dornier's shape earned it the nickname the "Flying Pencil." The bomber's poor defensive armament and lack of crew-protecting armor led to the tactic of it being flown at extremely low levels to avoid radar detection and subsequent attack by British Hurricanes and Spitfires

  Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka"
Know as the "Scourge of Europe," this dive bomber carried a crew of 2 and achieved phenomenal success during the early phase of the war, unleashing terror as well as bombs upon its victims. However, it was slow and its minimal defensive firepower made it an easy target for the British Spitfires and Hurricanes. It was soon withdrawn from the Battle of Britain.

  Messerschmitt Bf 110
This twin-engine fighter suffered from a lack of speed and maneuverability. Easily outclassed by its Hurricane and Spitfire opponents, it experienced catastrophic losses during the battle.

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