R.J.'s relative heads up Stoke Spitfire

摘要

Operation Spitfire, led by Julian Mitchell, the great nephew of Supermarine Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell, is now pressing ahead with the restoration of Spitfire MkXVI RW388 at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke. The airframe is in totally-stock, unmolested condition, having been presented to the city back in 1969 in memory of Mitchell, who was born and educated in North Staffordshire. The originality and "time-warp" nature of RW388 was of great benefit during the rebuild of the recently reflown RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire Mk XVI, TE311, at RAF Coningsby (see March 2013 Aeroplane), the Stoke machine being used as a template for many of the replacement parts.