2008 - Tuvalu 5 $ Fighter Planes of WWII 1oz Silver Five-Coin Set - Proof

Fighter Plane Designs - The reverse of each coin, which features a coloured design element and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, portrays:

• Hawker Hurricane - The RAF’s first monoplane fighter was also its first fighter capable of exceeding 300mph in level flight. Often perceived as a back up to the Supermarine Spitfire, the Hurricane was, in fact, Fighter Command’s most telling weapon during the Battle of Britain.
• North American P-51 Mustang - Escorting US bombers deep inside Germany and making a similarly notable contribution in the Pacific theatre, the Mustang's pivotal role during the latter half of the War persuaded many that it was one of the greatest US fighters ever built.
• Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen - An impressively armed and highly manoeuvrable shipboard fighter, the Zero stunned the US with its appearance over Pearl Harbour in 1941. In the latter stages of the War, the legendary fighter became the Japanese Navy’s prime kamikaze attack bomber.
• Messerschmitt Bf109 - Fast, manoeuvrable and versatile, the Bf109 destroyed more enemy aircraft during WWII than any other German fighter. One of the secrets of its success was a fuel injection system that maintained a constant fuel supply during extreme manoeuvres.
• Yakovlev Yak-3 - The Yak-3 was the exceptional Soviet fighter of its era. Particularly effective in dogfights at altitudes below 5,000 metres, the agile aircraft dominated the skies above the Eastern Front during the final phase of WWII.