GORDON Mitchell, the son of Spitfire designer RJ Mitchell, has died aged 88.
Dr Mitchell, best known for campaigning to raise the profile of his father, passed away on Friday after falling at his Cotswolds home a fortnight ago.
Born in Southampton in 1920, he joined the RAF himself during the war and worked in the Air Sea Rescue Division.
The father of three penned a book, Schooldays to Spitfire, which chronicles the creation of his father’s legendary fighter plane.
Moggy
By: Mark12 - 5th August 2009 at 10:47
Finally – after 2 hours increasingly impatient wrangle – I’m allowed to post again. #####!
Just wanted to say thanks, Mark, for the great photos. A chum alerted me that they were heading this way – Little Rissington – so I rushed out with camera and………….too low, man, too low. Well – we’re 650′ & the cloud was not much above, so – not a sight!!
Near neighbour – great chap.
= Tim
PS May I put your photo on the BofB forum?
Tim,
PM sent.
By: cotteswold - 5th August 2009 at 10:24
Finally – after 2 hours increasingly impatient wrangle – I’m allowed to post again. #####!
Just wanted to say thanks, Mark, for the great photos. A chum alerted me that they were heading this way – Little Rissington – so I rushed out with camera and………….too low, man, too low. Well – we’re 650′ & the cloud was not much above, so – not a sight!!
Near neighbour – great chap.
= Tim
PS May I put your photo on the BofB forum?
By: Lee Howard - 4th August 2009 at 22:45
…..but footage is likely to be on local TV tonight.
Footage of some grey-haired bloke with point and shoot camera held at full stretch trying to get a photo featured on the BBC Points West bulletin just now….:rolleyes:
By: stuart gowans - 4th August 2009 at 18:25
That last shot is very poignant; I read his book a few years ago, a very good read, but also very moving, I’m sure his father would have been proud of him.
By: Mark12 - 4th August 2009 at 16:53
At mid-day today Gordon Mitchell was laid to rest at a Service of Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church Lower Slaughter, Glos, his home village.
Despite rain and low cloud in the area three Spitfires overflew the church, BM597, PV202 and TD248, piloted by Charlie Brown, John Romain and possibly Cliff Spinks, all as Gordon, vice-presidents of the Spitfire Society.
A couple of record shots from the pocket camera, but footage is likely to be on local TV tonight.
…and a shot from 1986.
Mark
By: Peter - 28th July 2009 at 03:08
That is a terrible loss R.I.P Sir!
By: YakRider - 27th July 2009 at 22:14
Blue skies.
By: Flygirl - 27th July 2009 at 20:12
Sad news RIP Sir. Anna
By: Fournier Boy - 27th July 2009 at 20:09
An absolute gent – I met him at his book signing a number of years ago – such a font of knowledge on all things spitfire…
FB
By: DazDaMan - 27th July 2009 at 16:20
R.I.P. Gordon.
I hadn’t realised he’d been in the RAF as well….
By: Lord Roxeth - 27th July 2009 at 15:34
That’s a great shame…
My condolences to the Mitchell family.
Roxeth.
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July 27, 2009 at 2:59 pm