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Sopwith Pup

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1916-1918, Cosford, Hangar Two, 82/A/1067

The Pup, thought of by its pilots as the perfect flying machine, was used extensively by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps both at home and abroad. The first Pups reached the Western Front in the autumn of 1916 allowing the enthusiastic British pilots to maintain their hard won domination until mid-1917 when newer German aircraft redressed the balance.

Bi-plane fighter with light undersides and darker green camouflage above, © RAF Museum / Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Unofficial No. 23 Squadron Badge

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1934, Cosford, Hangar Two, 1990/0243/Y

This illustration of an eagle preying on a falcon is No. 23 Squadron's crest, and the Latin motto 'Semper aggressus' means 'Always having attacked'.

Drawing on fabric of an eagle with a falcon in its claws, © RAF Museum / RAF Museum

'Figaro' Door

Aircraft & Exhibits, Circa 1940, Cosford, Hangar Two, 71/A/221

Flight Lieutenant Ian Gleed flew his Hurricane Mk I throughout the Battle of Britain. He had the wily cartoon cat Figaro, from the Disney film Pinocchio, swatting a swastika, painted on his cockpit door.

Parallelogram-shaped green panel with a hand-painted black and white cat standing on hind legs turned to face a swastika, © RAF Museum / RAF Museum

Gloster Gladiator Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, AUG 1937-MAR 1948, Cosford, Hangar Two, 74/A/17

The Gloster Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter and the first to feature an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. Deliveries began in 1937, with Gladiators continuing to serve in the early years of the Second World War.

Biplane with propeller and silver body and wings, © RAF Museum

Supermarine Spitfire Mark I

Aircraft & Exhibits, APR 1939-NOV 1971, Cosford, Hangar Two, 72/A/263

More than any other aircraft, the Spitfire has become a much-loved symbol of winning against the odds. Designed by RJ Mitchell, its speed, agility and firepower made it one of the RAF's leading fighter aircraft of the Second World War.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and camouflage pattern, © RAF Museum

Ministry of Aircraft Production Plaque

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940, Cosford, Hangar Two, X004-4347

This plaque was presented to the Wolverhampton Express and Star Fighter Fund by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to commemorate the purchase of Spitfire Mk Vb AB917 ‘The Inspirer’ which served with No. 401 Squadron.

Rectangular plaque with inscription in black and red text, © RAF Museum

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1942-1997, Cosford, Hangar Two, X001-2501

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the Luftwaffe's principal fighter during the Battle of Britain. It could outclimb and outgun the RAF's Hurricanes and Spitfires. However, its limited range allowed pilots only twenty minutes flying time during raids over south-east England.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and yellow nose and grey body, © RAF Museum

Hawker Hurricane Mark IIc

Aircraft & Exhibits, MAR 1944-FEB 1984, Cosford, Hangar Two, 1995/1004/A

The Hawker Hurricane Mk I entered service in 1937 as the RAF's first eight-gun monoplane. During the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes shot down approximately 60% of enemy aircraft – more than all the other air and ground defences combined.

Single engine aircraft with propeller and camouflage pattern, © RAF Museum