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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Spitfire Aircraft Model
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Spitfire Aircraft Model

Artifact IDMO 1943.119.9
Object Type Miniature
Maker (Polish-British)
Date1942
Mediumplastic
Dimensionsoverall H 2 5/8 in x W 6 5/16 in x D 6 in (6.7 cm x 16.1 cm x 15.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA miniature model of a British Spitfire airplane with a movable propeller. The model is made entirely of translucent plastic with red highlights on the wings' machine gun ports and cannon barrels.
Historical NoteThis plastic model of a British Spitfire was assembled from pieces of a downed German warplane. Polish airmen serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) shot down the plane. The model is accompanied by a small, carved, wooden airplane wing (see MO 1943.119.10). Both pieces were made by Stefan Grzemski, a Polish officer serving with the British Air Corps, as a gift to President Franklin Roosevelt.


Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 6, 1942. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Exhibitions
Not on view