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Thursday, 20 April 2006, 08:32 GMT 09:32 UK

Airport rename to honour Spitfire

RJ Mitchell Southampton Airport could be renamed in honour of the man who designed the famous Spitfire.

R J Mitchell was chief designer for Supermarine and designed the warplane in 1935, dying only two years later from cancer, aged 42.

On Thursday, Eastleigh Borough Council will be asking its members to support a move to rename the airport R J Mitchell International Airport in his memory.

However, any final decision on a name change lies with airport owners BAA.

The Spitfire first took to the skies from the airport, then Eastleigh airfield, 70 years ago.

Mr Mitchell, originally from Staffordshire, died in 1937, only a year after seeing the prototype of his design make its maiden flight.

More than 20,000 Spitfires - which played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain - were built in the city's Supermarine factory in Woolston.



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Related to this story:
Uni honour for Spitfire designer (21 Mar 06 |  Hampshire )
Spitfires return for anniversary (03 Mar 06 |  Hampshire )
'No honour' for Spitfire inventor (21 Sep 05 |  Staffordshire )
Museum honours Spitfire inventor (16 Sep 05 |  UK )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The Spitfire Society
Southampton Airport
Eastleigh Borough Council
Spitfire Flypast
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