Forty years ago the Munich Crisis impelled Britain into a race to build a fighter force which could counter the menace of the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt 109.
Raymond Baxter tells the story of R. J. MITCHELL 'S brilliantly designed Spitfire, developed from his Schneider Trophy seaplanes, and built in record time by workers in Southampton, Birmingham and Derby.
Battle of Britain aces recall the fighter duels which showed that Spitfires and Messerschmitts were a near-match that left pilots with the balance of power.
In tonight's programme:
Air Vice-Marshal' Johnnie' Johnson Group Capt Sir Douglas Bader Wing Cmdr Bob Stanford-Tuck Test Pilot Jeffrey Quill and designers, managers and workers who made over 20,000 Spitfires.
Research ANNE PAID
Film cameraman JIM KNIGHTS Film editor PETER HUNT Producer JOHN FROST
( A Fine Blue Day: Wednesday 8.0 pm R4)