Production of the vital Second World War fighter was spread throughout the country and among some surprising businesses

With superb maneuverability thanks to its distinctive elliptical wings and powerful Merlin engine, the Nazis saw the Spitfire as their biggest threat in the Battle of Britain – so they attacked the factory producing them.

In two daylight bombing raids on the Supermarine plant in Southampton in September 1940, 110 people were killed.

But with the minister of aircraft production, Lord Beaverbrook, having only one instruction for his engineers – “more Spitfires” – plans had already been made to avoid the production of the fighter ever coming to a halt.

The solution was ingenious. Rather than build a second factory that would become a certain target for enemy bombers, production was scattered into the hands of ordinary people. In workshops, sheds and bus depots up and down the country, unqualified civilians built 8,000 Spitfires, piece by individual piece.

This is one of the many wartime tales told in the new 10-part BBC radio show and podcast Spitfire: The People’s Plane, presented by Downton Abbey star Tuppence Middleton. Using audio archives and unearthed diary entries, the series recounts the anecdotes of those who built Spitfires and raised funds to make them.

“Once you start tearing away at who was building the Spitfires that won us the Battle of Britain, then you uncover all these interlocking webs of fascinating stories about ordinary people,” says producer Emily Knight.

“Production took over launderettes and basket shops and all of these extraordinary places that really had nothing to do with the war effort but were suddenly thrust into the middle of it. There were people in bus garages that were putting together the wings and women in brick huts sorting the Spitfire’s screws.”

Ordinary heroes and echoes of today

The remarkable readiness of ordinary people to contribute to the war effort is a reoccurring theme throughout the series, one that has been likened to the bravery of today’s everyday heroes in the coronavirus pandemic.

“There’s absolutely a real comparison to be drawn,” says Knight. “The women sorting the screws were older and could have happily sat out of the war and done nothing. Yet, they put up their hands and said: ‘I won’t just sit at home. I can do something.’ That’s a story that you see over and over again. People got up and contributed their time and whatever skills they had.”

The podcast reminds listeners that these volunteers had doubts and individual concerns. They were not unquestioningly altruistic.

“We talk about ‘Blitz spirit’ so much, to the point that it becomes a cliché,” says Knight. “Not everybody was gung ho immediately. Some people were really put out by it and wanted to get back to normal as soon as possible.

“But at the core of it, there was this incredible bravery and willingness to go the extra mile.”

This summer marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which saw the RAF take on the Luftwaffe for three-and-a-half - months, as the Nazis attempted to gain air superiority ahead of a planned invasion.

A hard-fought victory

The Spitfire became the symbol of an unlikely British victory, but the cost was huge. In total, 1,744 British aircraft were destroyed, 1,542 aircrew lost their lives and 14,286 civilians were killed on the ground.

“The slightly pompous celebratory tone about the war has gone out of fashion recently,” says Knight. “It feels a little bit jingoistic to get up on our high horse and celebrate Britain’s military war efforts because so many people died.

“But, when we tell these stories of ordinary people who were heroic in extraordinary circumstances against all the odds, celebrating feels more natural. Those are the people that we can really take pride in.”

Military historians are quick to point out that the Hurricane shot down more Nazi aircraft during the Battle of Britain. So, what perpetuates this national obsession? “It was the plane the Germans feared the most,” says Knight. “They considered it an honourable thing to be shot down by a Spitfire.”