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I am an Englishman living in Sydney Australia. I met Gordon Mitchell at Northolt last September and as a result wrote a letter to Aeroplane Monthly regarding a posthumous knighthood for Mitchell. This has resulted in an enormous response from all over the world but my reply from Tony Blair was redirected to the Ministry of Defence. I had a most civil reply from Alistair Boyd of the Civilian Honours Unit, who wrote: 'There is no doubting the contribution made by the Spitfire aircraft during wartime but as Mr. Mitchell died in 1937 it would not be possible for him to be considered for an award now.' Why not? At this moment Sir Mick Jagger is jumping around on a stage in Sydney. It could be argued that Reginald Mitchell contributed more to the survival of the British race than an elderly rocker in tight pants. All those in favour of a gong for RJ say aye.
Jeff Watson (born Castle Bromwich)
Mitchell school????????
Remember as if it was yesterday? how could you forget. A School named in honour of the designer of the spitfire!!!!!!!
R.J.Mitchell & Spitfire
There is a fantastic website about a campaign to raise awareness of RJ supported by Dr Gordon Mitchell, his son. Worth a visit http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk
PAR
R.J.Mitchell & Spitfire
Are we as a country any further forward on recognising the fact that RJ Mitchell was probably 'The Person' who saved Europe from the Nazis? Where is the posthumous knighthood he so richly deserves!
Nick Rose
R.J.Mitchell & Spitfire
I saw the comment that "This Ruddy Plane" is almost mythical now .There was nothing "Mythical" about the Spitfire .It is ,& will always be "Legendry" .
Entertainers like Shakespeare & Co. have no place in our history of survival . I admire all holders of decorations for bravery ,including my late grandfather , but I feel that these people performed incredibly brave actions in localised battles .
R.J.Mitchell had to fight cancer as he worked himself to death designing the Spitfire which was a Star player in the war against Adolf & Co Regards ,
George Yallop
Launceston
rj mitchell
he was not a hanley lad, he was a butt lane lad. i live in france but im still a kidsgrove lad, because thats where i was born. thanks for the site, love it!!!.
keith jones
La Vernelle 36600 France
Mitchell
Is there a record or information that Mitchell's design of the spitfire plane came about in a dream he had on how to approach the design or making of this plane... anything about a dream he had that led to this?
Karen Heinzen
Keaau, Hawaii
R J Mitchell
Do you know if RJMitchell was a boy scout and if so did he belong to Normacot or Dresden group of scouts?
Gill
Stoke-on- Trent
Mitchell
I have always believed that the design came a seagull. At least the wings. I suppose it was the Leslie Howard movie "Spitfire" which planted that idea. In one scene, Mitchell is studying gulls by the ocean and is apparently deeply engrossed over their soaring and gliding finesse. The wings of a Spit' do resemble those of a gull. Just a thought.
Ken Buckley
Bangor, Maine. (Formerly Trentham)
Mitchell
Is there a record or information that Mitchell's design of the spitfire plane came about in a dream he had on how to approach the design or making of this plane... anything about a dream he had that led to this?
Karen Heinzen
Keaau, Hawaii
Burial Place of R Mitchell
Itis to be found at SU 44684 16052, just south of Southampton airport. I haven't yet visited, but it's a part of a "geocaching" question.
James Hardiman & Susan Courtney
Eastleigh
R.J.Mitchell
Question; did Reginald have any family living in Hampshire/Dorset? or another son called Roy?
Phil Keeble
RJ Mitchell
I wonder if you have any information on where Reginald John Mitchell, the inventor of the Spitfire aircraft, is buried and how to get there. I have found some information that he is buried at Stoneham Cemetry which is in Hampshire but I would be grateful if you could confirm this if possible.
Debbie Attridge
mitchell film
Can you tell me, are there any plans to broadcast the program on R J Mitchell nationwide that was shown BBC West Midlands Sunday 21st March 2004?
Or is there any other way you know of I could get to see it?
I am very interested in Mitchell's engineering achievements, and would be so fascinated to see this program.
Alistair Ross
ANSWER Hi. Apparently, if you can email or write a request to Paula Richardson in the Inside Out Programme office, she'll be able to send them a tape. Likewise anyone else. Apparently, it's a standard procedure.- HOST
RJ
Hi I enjoyed your piece on Reginald Mitchell, the inventor of the Spitfire.
My interest was sparked by my father-in-law, Arthur Mitchell, who is now 86 years old. Arthur lives in Ireland, but was in the British Army, and saw service in N. Africa during the second World War. On a recent trip to Ireland with my wife, Elaine (Arthur's daughter) , Arthur said that he was related to the inventor of the Spitfire. He did not have any details, but is it possible that Reginald Mitchell was his Uncle??
My only other piece of information is that Arthur Mitchell's mother's name was Elsie Nicholls. Could you give any assistance here, or point me in the direction of someone who could?
Arthur's wife (Betty) died in 2002. They had three daughters. Many thanks,
Dr Jimmy Ennetts
MITCHELL& SEAFIRE
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, THE LATE LT. R.J.STURGES RNVR JOINED THE NAVY AS A VOLUNTEER RATING IN 1941 AND BECAME A PETTY OFFICER PILOT, LATER COMMISSIONED,
HE WAS A LT. RNVR, FLYING OFF H.M.S. ATTACKER, WHEN HE WAS AWARDED THE D.S.C WHEN, WHILST FLYING A SEAFIRE, HE "AIMED FOR THE WATER INSTEAD OF THE SHIP" AFTER HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT UP.
HE USED TO SAY TO ME, WHEN I WAS SMALL "THE SEAFIRE WAS A SEAGOING SPIT;WHEN YOU SAT IN HER, SHE BECAME PART OF YOU". I REMEMBER THAT CLEARLY.
HE LOVED THE SPITFIRE, AND, BEING A SAILOR, HE LOVED THE SEAFIRE EVEN MORE. HE WAS IN HIS TWENTIES; I WAS LESS THAN TEN.HE WAS MY HERO THEN, AND IN MY MEMORY, HE STILL IS.
PETE DAWSON
YEOVIL
Your Reginald Mitchell web page
Fascinating tribute to a fascinating guy and a tremendous plane. If you're looking for links,you might want to check out my small contribution to World War II history at http:www.davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com or http://usswashington.com/dl_index.htm They are day-by-day histories of World War II.
David H. Lippman
Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ
Mitchell's Son.
Authentic details of the life and work of R.J.Mitchell can be found in a 320 page illustrated book by me, his son, Dr. Gordon Mitchell, entitled "R.J.Mitchell - Schooldays to Spitfire". Price £18.99 which includes p & p of £3.56, obtainable from Tempus Publishing Ltd, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucs. GL5 2QG (Tel. 01453 883300). This is the 3rd Edition of this book, published in 2002.
One of the contributors to the book is a famous Battle of Britain pilot, Air Commodore Alan Deere DSO OBE DFC in which he states "There can be no doubt that victory in the Battle of Britain was made possible by the Spitfire. Although there were more Hurricanes than Spitfires in the battle, the Spitfire was the RAF's primary weapon because of its better all - round capibility. The Hurricane alone could not have won this great air battle, but the Spitfire could have done so. That I am alive today to pen these few words is not so much due to my much - publicised luc! k, as to the durability of this supreme fighter. R.J.Mitchell is a man to whom we Spitfire pilots owe so much".
Dr Gordon Mitchell
Lower Slaughter, Nr CHELTENHAM
spitfire
you can see a superg example of a real Spitfire in the City museum in Hanley which also has photos of Mitchell when he was working on its design
si
RJ Mitchell
RJ Mitchell is rightly remembered as the designer of the Spitfire, but he should also be held up as an example to all cancer sufferers. In 1933 he was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum.
He had to have a colostomy. This meant he went back to work with a colostomy bag (that's a bag of poo). Not only did he design the Spitfire while always wearing this, but he learnt to fly himself and took part in numerous sports.
Now that's a special kind of courage!
For some years maintained a short biography on Mitchell on my website, updating it as new information became available.
How about getting your collegues at BBC television to show the film "First of the Few" about Mitchell to celebrate his being elected the most famous midlander?
John Dell
Birmingham
greatest midlander
I am writing to tell you how pleased I am that RJ Mitchell won the prestigious award of the greatest midlander.
Actually I am his great-granddaugter!!! I voted 30 times for him as I know from my grandfather (Gordon Mitchell) how important this was, and how much it means to both my grandfather, and RJ's Mitchells memory.
I hope too that one day, I will be able to make the impact and do something special for the nation just as he did.
Thank you to all that voted.!
emma
greatest midlander?
I cannot believe reginald mitchell is the greatest. i'm not against a scientist/inventor being thought of as great - but was he a genius like Shakespeare? - or did he possess great bravery in defending his fellow man (like Jack Baskeyfield VC)?
It's a bit sentimental I think, all based on that ruddy plane ... whihc is almost mythical now!
markia
R J MItchell
We are a local group in Southampton who have formed to help erect a statue to R J Mitchell, overlooking eastleigh airport, and are looking for supporters. Please Email me for further details.- Simon Durkin
Simon Durkin
Southampton
R J Mitchell
I think it should be possible for the government to approach The Queen with a view to awarding him a baronetcy, which is presumably within her gift, even if it was awarded posthumously. In that event his son would inherit the baronetcy, which maybe he deserves in recognition of the effort he has put in to recognition of the inventor of the Spitfire.
Penelope Wade
Cheltenham
the spitfire
i bought a print of the Worcester Spitfire and had it signed by former pilots who flew during the war. as aboy of seven i remember collecting for our spit . it is also signed by his son just for £20 i have this wonderfull piece of history DJ FREEMAN
DJ FREEMAN
wORCESTER
the spitfire
i have a print of the worcester spitfire on my wall i met RJ MITCHELL's son at the signing i also met some of the pilots who flew the spit during the war they signed my print i felt very humble to to be in the same room. i have aquired the spitfire story by A PRICE i am 71 and remeber seeing the spit at the local drome i also remember collecting for our spit. D freeman
d freeman
WORCESTER
Reginald Mitchell
My grandmother Alice Stapleton nee Davis who is nearly 101 years old told me that we are related to Reginald. My grandmother came from Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. Due to her age I am unable to get anymore information, just that he was a great great uncle. Can you give me anymore information on his relatives. I would be very interested. Thank you
Kim Checksfield
Whitstable
Bracklesham Bay
I have been told by local residents that I live in the house in Bracklesham Bay where Mitchell lived and where he may have seen those seagulls that inspired certain elements of the Spitfire. I am going to read the book by his son to see if I can find any verification of his residency here.
Teresa St Clair
Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
RJ Mitchell - Associated Web sites
Are you aware of a new site recently launched by IS Solutions, and sponsred by the Sidney Frank Foundation? You can see it at http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/
Colin Layton
Hampstead Norreys, Thatcham
R.J.Mitchell & Spitfire
I saw the comment that "This Ruddy Plane" is almost mythical now .There was nothing "Mythical" about the Spitfire .It is ,& will always be "Legendry" . Entertainers like Shakespeare & Co. have no place in our history of survival . I admire all holders of decorations for bravery ,including my late grandfather ,but I feel that these people performed incredibly brave actions in localised battles .R.J.Mitchell had to fight cancer as he worked himself to death designing the Spitfire which was a Star player in the war against Adolf & Co Regards , George Yallop
George Yallop
Launceston
rj mitchell
he was not a hanley lad, he was a butt lane lad. i live in france but im still a kidsgrove lad, because thats where i was born. thanks for the site, love it!!!.
keith jones
La Vernelle 36600 France
Mitchell
Is there a record or information that Mitchell's design of the spitfire plane came about in a dream he had on how to approach the design or making of this plane... anything about a dream he had that led to this?
Karen Heinzen
Keaau, Hawaii
