The story of the British engineer who helped create one of the most famous aircraft of all time…
Throughout the history of flight, no aircraft has become as iconic as the Supermarine Spitfire. During the Second World War, these fighters protected Britain’s skies from enemy attack and fought valiantly against the German Luftwaffe. Famously, between July and October of 1940 they took part in the Battle of Britain, helping to end any ambitions Hitler had of invading the British isles. But what of it’s creation? The figure at the heart of that story was R J Mitchell, who tragically died in 1937, not living to see the Spitfire become a British icon. Now, author Paul Beaver has written a new autobiography, Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire, and, ahead of his appearance at Chalke Festival, spoke to us about this extraordinary aircraft.
Who was R J Mitchell?
Reginald Mitchell is one of the greatest British engineers. He was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1895 to a prosperous family who indulged him in his passion for aeronautics by giving him a workshop in which he could make model aeroplanes. Mitchell wanted to be an engineer and the best way into the business was through an apprenticeship in high technology engineering. Before the First World War, that was specialist railway locomotive building. Mitchell took it and never looked back. He joined Supermarine at Southampton and was soon showing its expertise as an innovative engineer, through 24 different aircraft including the Supermarine Type 6b which won the coveted Schneider Trophy for Britain in 1931.
How did Mitchell create the Spitfire?
Mitchell realised with the design and engineering work needed for the Schneider Trophy winning S6/S6b design that a full team was needed. As he worked on the Type 224 with Alf Faddy, he realised that the Supermarine standard of design of the 1920s needed to raise its game to embrace new technologies and techniques. Never a prima dona, Mitchell brought a team together to improve the Type 224 out of all recognition and Vickers, the owners of Supermarine, granted him funding to recruit. By 1934, there were 151 young men in design, a further dozen or so female tracers and a small management group to pioneer work on the Type 300 which would become the Spitfire. Mitchell excelled in leadership, recognising talent and embrace technology. Above all he was a superb engineer.
Did Mitchell live to see ‘his’ aircraft’s success?
Mitchell was dangerously ill with cancer from 1933. He had several operations but sadly nothing could save him. He gradually left day-to-day management of Supermarine, but he lived to see the Type 300 (which became the Spitfire) fly on 5 March 1936. Later that month, he flew with Jeffrey Quill, the chief test pilot to watch George Pickering, another test pilot, put the Type 300 through its paces. There then began the discussions about a name – Mitchell wanted Shrew; the Air Ministry wanted Scarab but Vickers, which owned Supermarine, decided on Spitfire – after all they had paid for the prototype to be built.
Despite being designed primarily as a fighter, the Spitfire took on multiple roles during the war. What was it about the design that allowed for this?
The Supermarine design team was able to continually develop the Spitfire through 24 marks and over 70 variants, including a floatplane and the naval Seafire. The design allowed for enlargement and new tail; canopy and wings because of its monocoque design. Rolls-Royce developed a new engine called the Griffon which gave more performance ensuring that the Spitfire would serve on after the Second World War and even took part in the Korean War as the naval Seafire Mk 47.
Why do you think the Spitfire remains such an iconic aircraft, nearly one-hundred years after took to the air?
The Spitfire is iconic. Saviour of the country; a beautiful shape; a fantastic noise; a work of art; loved in Britain, Europe and around the world.
Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire is out now from Elliott & Thompson Limited.
Paul Beaver will be speaking at Chalke History Festival On Wednesday 24th June. Tickets and further details can be found here.
Subscribe to
All About History now for amazing savings!
