Lightnings are nice, but not nearly as historically significant as the Spitfire.
Lightnings were only in combat for what, two years? Lightnings were a third-line aircraft behind the P-51, P-47, F6F, F4U, which did most of the killing.
Spitfires were the most numerous and most effective fighter of the RAF and were on the front lines from 1940 until the very end. In addition they served very successfully with the air forces of several allied nations, in four theaters of operation.
There is no comparison.
[This message has been edited by funked (edited 03-05-2001).]