Mitchell, R(eginald) J(oseph) (1895–1937)

British Spitfire fighter plane. The Spitfire was designed by R J Mitchell and, together with the Hurricane, brought victory in the Battle of Britain.

The British monoplane fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire was used extensively by the RAF during World War II.

English aircraft designer whose Spitfire fighter was a major factor in winning the Battle of Britain during World War II. The single-engined Spitfire prototype was produced in 1936, and put into service in 1938. More than 20,000 Spitfires were eventually built. The manoeuvrability and adaptability of the Spitfire accounted for its success.

Mitchell's first aeroplane, the Sea Lion (1919), was adapted from a standard design; faster models of Sea Lion followed. In 1924, Mitchell designed the Supermarine S-4. It was a monoplane and the whole wing section was made in one piece. He developed world-beating sea-planes for the Schneider Trophy races (1922–23) and won speed records with several of the S-model planes in the 1920s.

Mitchell was born near Stoke-on-Trent, England. He became apprenticed to a firm of locomotive builders and continued his education in the evenings at technical colleges. From 1916 he worked for the Supermarine Aviation Company, which specialized in flying boats.