In the ‘Daily Mail’ today there is a feature on Sidney Franks, a billionaire in the USA who believes that R J Mitchell should be properly honoured for the design of the Spitfire. He has commissioned a statue of the man for the Science museum and wants to see a 50 ship Spitfire fly past over London! He has been financially supporting Mitchell’s son and his wife since she fell seriously ill. The article covers two pages. He recognises the part the Hurricane played and has sponsored both Mitchell and Camm’s names on the new B.O.B. Memorial but points out that Camm was knighted, but Mitchell died to quickly. Interesting .
mmitch.
By: proplover - 12th February 2005 at 18:38
Doesn’t say much for this country (even after years of this politically correct government) that an American citizen took it on himself to assist the Mitchells – shame.
The very least should be a statue to RJ at the Southampton Airport.
By: adwwebber - 11th February 2005 at 09:46
I’ll scrounge up a couple of copies. P.M me forwarding details and i’ll send them over to you no problem.
By: J Boyle - 11th February 2005 at 00:00
This wee lad has done a great job in highlighting something very significant.
At the very least, there should be an airport named after the great man.
There is a Mitchell Field in Wisconsin, USA.
Of course, it’s named after Gen. Billy Mitchell. But close. 🙂
By: Der - 10th February 2005 at 22:08
This wee lad has done a great job in highlighting something very significant.
At the very least, there should be an airport named after the great man.
By: Snapper - 10th February 2005 at 21:58
Cheers mate. Any chance to scrounge another copy or two? Be great to send one to the builder, and I wouldn’t mind one myself. I’m gonna call him now – even though i’m in bed with fluey type crap. Just woke up soaked…..first thought? email and forum!!
By: adwwebber - 10th February 2005 at 21:44
on the subject og the young lad. In the local free paper in Stoke today was a small artical and picture. Feb 10th issue
Spitfire fan Dean flies high
“Historians were so impressed by aletter a 10-year old schoolboy wrote about inventor Reginald Mitchell they sent him a model plane”
“But the letter made a big impact on the members of the historical aviation forum, who were so impressed they asked his school if they could send him a minature spitfie as a present”
Only a couple of qoutes sorry cuz i cant get scanner image to a decent standard.
But at least you know it was all worth it, Well done all invloved
By: Snapper - 7th February 2005 at 22:21
Nah. I didn’t put a snailmail address – thought he’d check out the forum and thank us on here. But hey.
By: DazDaMan - 7th February 2005 at 22:07
Speaking of which, did you ever hear back from that schoolkid??
By: Snapper - 7th February 2005 at 21:37
Maybe he wants a model?
By: dhfan - 7th February 2005 at 00:20
It’s available on DVD here apparently http://www.musicweb.uk.net/film/2002/Nov02/first_of_the_few.html
but I don’t know about other versions.
By: Snapper - 6th February 2005 at 22:32
I saw it too – damned good.
By: crazymainer - 6th February 2005 at 21:43
Hi All,
Speaking of Spitfire the movie with David Niven in it about Rj is it now avaible on Dvd yet and if so is it on US version.
Cheers
RER
By: mike currill - 6th February 2005 at 21:34
Nice to see someone wants to remember RJ. The article made very interesting reading.
By: mmitch - 5th February 2005 at 10:56
See his website here:- http://www.rjmitchell-spitfire.co.uk/
mmitch.
By: JDK - 5th February 2005 at 10:32
Indeed.
Would be nice to recognise Joe Smith of Supermarine, who took the Spitfire from re-engineering the Prototype (designed by RJ) all the way through to Seafire 47. (Though I’m happy to be corrected by the Spitaholics here…)
By: DazDaMan - 5th February 2005 at 10:20
Very!
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February 5, 2005 at 9:56 am