Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire

Mitchell: Father of the Spitfire

By: Paul Beaver

ISBN: 9781783969036
eBook ISBN: 9781783969043
Cover: Hardback
Published: September 4, 2025
Size: 235x156mm
Page Count: 300

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The gripping story of the pioneer behind the Spitfire told in a major new biography

‘Britain’s leading aviation historian’ Daily Mail

Reginald Mitchell is one of the greatest names in aviation history. A visionary engineer with a passion for speed, his legacy is the most iconic fighter aircraft of all time: the Spitfire.

During the uneasy peace of the 1920s, he was a trailblazing innovator working at the cutting edge of technology. As Europe’s politics darkened in the 1930s, the work of Mitchell and his team at Supermarine became crucial to a nation preparing for war. Though he did not live to see the Spitfire in action, his work led to triumph at the Battle of Britain – and to a legendary aircraft that still inspires awe to this day.

In this exhilarating biography, Paul Beaver takes us behind the scenes, exploring the creative genius of a man devoted to pushing the boundaries of technology. We see his flair for leadership and collaboration with Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of British engineering; we learn of Mitchell’s other innovative designs that could have changed the course of the war, had he not died in 1937; and, at last, we hear the real story behind the Spitfire.

Drawing on new interviews, private archives and previously unpublished material, this is the story of a man who helped change the course of history – one of the great design leaders of the twentieth century.

Praise for Winkle:

‘[A] thumping great biography by Britain’s leading aviation historian’ Daily Mail, ‘Book of the Week’

‘Winkle Brown’s astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading’ Sunday Times

‘Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place’ Observer

‘The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero. Epic’ The Herald

‘An incredible life … Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable’ The Sun

  • Praise for Winkle:

    ‘[A] thumping great biography by Britain’s leading aviation historian’


    - Daily Mail, ‘Book of the Week’
  • ‘Compelling, fascinating and frequently jaw-dropping. A brilliant and revelatory biography’ 


    - James Holland
  • ‘Winkle Brown’s astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading’


    - Sunday Times
  • ‘Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place’


    - Observer
  • ‘An excellent biography’


    - Patrick Bishop, Daily Telegraph
  • ‘The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero. Epic’


    - The Herald
  • ‘A thrilling new biography’


    - Daily Express
  • ‘Riveting … one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise … an incredible story’


    - Flyer
  • ‘An incredible life … Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable’


    - The Sun