Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire

REVIEW BY GRAHAM GOODLAD The Supermarine Spitfire has received more attention in print than almost any other aircraft in history, but relatively little has been written about the life of its designer, R J Mitchell. His son, the late Gordon Mitchell, offered some valuable personal insights almost 40 years ago in R J Mitchell: Schooldays to Spitfire. Then came John Shelton’s 2008 study Schneider Trophy to Spitfire: The Design Career of R J Mitchell, still the fullest assessment, although the focus is more on the machines than on the man himself. Readers seeking a concise survey of Mitchell’s career and achievements will certainly turn to Paul Beaver’s new book. The author is well-q