The Supermarine Seafire is a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. The Seafire Mk.III was first operationally-viable Seafire variant, helped by having folding wings. This led to the type rapidly spreading throughout the Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy).

In November 1942, the first combat use of the Seafire occurred during Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. In July 1943, the Seafire was used to provide air cover for the Allied invasion of Sicily; and reprised this role in September 1943 during the subsequent Allied invasion of Italy. During 1944, the type was again used in quantity to provide aerial support to Allied ground forces during the Normandy landings and Operation Dragoon in Southern France. During the latter half of 1944, the Seafire became a part of the aerial component of the British Pacific Fleet, where it quickly proved to be a capable interceptor against the feared kamikaze attacks by Japanese pilots which had become increasingly common during the final years of the Pacific War.

The Seafire continued to be used for some time after the end of the war, with the Mk.III replaced replaced by Griffon-engined variants. The type saw further active combat use during the Korean War, in which Seafires performed hundreds of missions in the ground attack and combat air patrol roles during 1950. The Seafire was finally withdrawn from service during the 1950s.