Crossword Genius

Line at end of letter lists retired fighters (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spitfires

'fighters' is the definition.

'line at end of letter lists retired' is the wordplay.
'line at end of letter' becomes 'serif' (stroke attached to a letter in some typefaces).
'lists' becomes 'tips'.
'retired' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'serif'+'tips'='seriftips'
'seriftips' written backwards gives 'SPITFIRES'.

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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