
Striking images of the Supermarine Spitfires that helped Britain win World War Two have been brought into the twenty-first century after being expertly colourised.

The stunning shots show a Merlin engine being fitted into a Spitfire at CBAF Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory, Spitfires taking off from an air field and Spitfires in flight formation while on a bombing mission.

Other incredible pictures show a downed US Spitfire that had crash landed, German soldiers sitting on a downed plane on Calais beach and pilots admiring the nose art on one of the fighters.

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These Spitfire Mark VCs of No 2 Squadron of the South African Air Force were flying in a loose line astern formation over the Adriatic Sea on a bombing mission in November 1943. The VCs were able to carry one 250lb bomb under each wing

These two German soldiers sit on Spitfire P9374 which was shot down over Calais in 1940 while on a sortie from RAF Hornchurch in Essex. Pilot Officer Peter Cazenove performed a belly-landing and was taken prisoner after the fall of Calais. Amazingly, the aircraft was rediscovered in 1980 was returned to flight in September 2011 after reconstruction

Flying Officer Leonard 'Ace' Haines of No 19 Squadron is pictured at Fowlmere on his Supermarine Spitfire, Mk 1 in September 1940 He was credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain and having a half-share in a seventh. He was transferred to a training squadron following the battle and was killed in an accident west of London

The vivid photographs were painstakingly colourised by design engineer Paul Reynolds from Birmingham.

'Having grown up a couple of miles from CBAF I’ve always had an affinity for the Spitfire also the aircraft is a legend which respected throughout the world,' he said.

'I chose this set of photos because it shows Spitfires from various air forces (RAF, USAF, SAAF), showing what a multinational fighter it was.

'I hope my set represents the life of the Spitfire from being built, into flight to being shot down.'

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries before, during and after World War II.

This spitfire, sporting the black and white striped D-Day markings crash landed in Tully-sur-Seulles during the Normandy campaign in 1944. A column of Sherman tanks has been photographed bypassing the crashed fighter

The Supermarine Spitfire, pictured here on January 1, 1940 returning from a coastal patrol, shot down fewer enemy aircraft than the Hawker Hurricane during the Battle of Britain, although to the general public, the elliptical wing and sleek lines made it quicker and more manoeuverable than the Hurricane

Supermarine Spitfire v the Hawker Hurricane - The two heroes of the Battle of Britain in 1940 SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE HAWKER HURRICANE ENGINE 1030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin engine 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin engine SPAN 36ft 11 40ft LENGTH 29ft 11 31ft 4 TOP SPEED 362mph 328mph ARMAMENT Eight - .303 Browning machine guns Eight - .303 Browing machine guns

During the Battle of Britain, from July to October 1940, the Spitfire was perceived by the public to be the main RAF fighter, though the more numerous Hawker Hurricane shouldered a greater proportion of the burden against Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe.

Spitfire units, however, had a lower attrition rate and a higher victory-to-loss ratio than those flying Hurricanes because of its higher performance.

After the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire superseded the Hurricane to become the backbone of RAF Fighter Command, and saw action in the European, Mediterranean, Pacific, and South-East Asian theatres.

This Supermarine Spitfire VC 'Tropical' JK707 MX-P was serving with the 307th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group of the US Air Force when it was crash landed by Major Virgil Cephus Fields, Jr on a beach in Salerno, Italy on September 9, 1943

These Supermarine Spitfire Mark VBs of 122 Squadron are taking off from Hornchurch Essex in 1942 for a fighter sweep over France. The photograph was taken from the watch tower. The international squadron was commanded by Czech Squadron Leader František Fajtl and flew offensive missions over northern France as well as escorting bombers during raids

Much loved by its pilots, the Spitfire served in several roles, including interceptor, photo-reconnaissance, fighter-bomber and trainer, and it continued to serve in these roles until the 1950s.

Mr Reynolds hopes his colourised photos can help teach the younger generation about the history of this country.

'I colourise these photos to bring our past to a new generation of people,' he explained.

'Many of my colourisations on my Facebook page get viewed by tens of thousands of people - many from the 16 to 24 age group.'

These technicians are fitting the V12 Merlin engine at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. The engine - which produced 1030hp - was able to power the Spitfire to 362mph - 30mph quicker than the Hurricane equipped with the same engine

Squadron Leader Douglas Bader, centre, pictured with Flight Lieutenant Eric Ball and Pilot Officer Willie McKnight, standing in front of Bader's Hawker Hurricane in Duxford in October 1940. He was shot down over France in August 1941