The Supermarine Spitfire is probably the most beautiful fighter aircraft that has ever taken to the skies. The maiden flight of R. J. Mitchell's masterpiece took place in March 1936, and the "Spit" immediately proved to be the ideal aircraft to stand up against the previously undefeated German Luftwaffe. Powered by the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine, the Spitfire was almost 600 km/h fast and also boasted excellent maneuverability, which was immensely important in the so-called "dogfights" or turning fights of that era. These strengths made the Spitfire the ideal tool during the fierce air battles over Southern England and the English Channel in the cloudy summers of 1940. The Spitfire became a symbol for what Winston Churchill called "The few" in the Battle of Britain. It asserted itself in the fight for air superiority over England and thereby earned its historical place in history.