The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seat fighter used by the RAF and many Allied countries in World War II. The Spitfire’s elliptical wings gave it a very distinctive look; their thin cross-section gave it speed; the brilliant design of Chief Designer R.J. Mitchell and his successors (he died in 1937) meant the Spitfire was loved by its pilots. It saw service during the whole of World War II, in all theatres of war, and in many different variants. The Spitfire Mk VIII is an all-metal, semi-monocoque construction with a cantilevered wing, fabric covered elevators and rudder and retractable landing gear. A total of 20.334 Spitfires were built before, during and after the war. 1.652 Spitfire Mk VIII variants were built.