Paul Beaver: Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire - Part of Autumn Derby Book Festival

Description

Reginald Mitchell is one of the greatest names in aviation history: a visionary engineer with a passion for speed, his legacy is the most iconic fighter aircraft of all time, the Spitfire. 

His work led him to a successful collaboration with Rolls-Royce. During the uneasy peace of the 1920s, he was a trailblazing innovator working at the cutting edge of technology. As Europe's politics darkened in the 1930s, the work of Mitchell and his team at Supermarine became crucial to a nation preparing for war.

Though he did not live to see the Spitfire in action, his work led to triumph at the Battle of Britain – and to a legendary aircraft that still inspires awe to this day. 

Reginald is immortalised in the 1942 film, The First of the Few, directed by Leslie Howard, who also played Reginald in the film.