The ultimate ‘clash of eagles’, which came to represent the struggle for aerial supremacy during the Second World War, was undoubtedly contested between Britain’s Supermarine Spitfire and Germany’s Messerschmitt Bf 109, two of the most famous fighting aeroplanes in the history of flight. With both fighters remaining in service throughout the war, both were continually upgraded to either gain an advantage over their adversary or to overcome one. Whilst other aircraft types would eventually join the fray, the Spitfire and Messerschmitt continued to contest their deadly rivalry, which began above the beaches of Dunkirk during the summer of 1940.