R.J. Mitchell and Aeroplane Development

Nobody embodied the advances made by Britain's aerospace industry in the interwar years than R.J. Mitchell. He pioneered innovative designs at the Supermarine Aviation Works in Southampton and was ultimately responsible for the Spitfire which proved so important during World War Two. The British government hoped that developments in aerospace would help reduce the costs of administering and defending the empire. These wishes were not entirely fulfilled but significant investment was made into the aerospace industry if at the expense of the army and navy.