This document provides an overview of the development history of the Supermarine Spitfire. It details how the Spitfire originated from earlier Supermarine designs like the Type 224 and Type 300. While the Type 224 prototype was not successful, it led Supermarine to refine the design into the smaller, sleeker Type 300 prototype. The document outlines key aspects of the Spitfire's design including its metal construction and use of the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. It also provides background on the Spitfire Mark IX variant that was produced in large numbers and played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain.