LIKE every schoolboy brought up in the 1940s, I quickly learned the difference between a Spitfire and a Hurricane.

In spite of your headline “Spitfires and swing dancing at 1940s event” (Echo, June 26) the aircraft making the flypast over Barnard Castle on Saturday was definitely a Hurricane.

This mistake is nothing new.

Despite the fact that twice as many Hurricanes as Spitfires were engaged in the Battle of Britain, most people believed – and still do – that the Spitfire won the battle.

Yet Hurricanes shot down more of the enemy than all the other defences put together.

Considering Chris Lloyd’s attention to detail in identifying vintage cars in his Memories, the Echo’s record with historical aircraft is disappointing, so I shall have to keep writing my letters!

Bill Bartle, Barnard Castle