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R.J. Mitchell

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Aviator

The Resume

    (May 20, 1895-June 11, 1937)
    Born in Butt Lane, North Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
    Birth name was Reginald Joseph Mitchell
    Aircraft designer for Supermarine (1911-37)
    Designed 24 aircraft, including the Supermarine Southhampton and Supermarine S.6B
    Headed the team that designed the Supermarine Spitfire
    Earned a pilot's license (1934)
    Named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1931)

Why he might be annoying:

    The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography described him as 'often stern and irascible towards those less gifted than himself.'
    After Vickers took over Supermarine, Barnes Wallis was sent to improve the efficiency of Supermarine, but was recalled because of Mitchell's refusal to work with him. (Reportedly, Mitchell would storm out of any room when Wallis entered.)
    Most of the technical advances in the Spitfire were made by other designers at Supermarine.
    He said about the Spitfire, 'It's the sort of bloody silly name they [the Royal Air Force] would choose.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He rose rapidly through the ranks at Supermarine, going from a newly hired draftsman to chief engineer in five years.
    When Vickers took over Supermarine (1928), one condition of the purchase was that Mitchell stay on as head designer for at least five years.
    The Spitfire proved versatile enough to be the only British aircraft produced during the entire duration of World War II.
    The Royal Aeronautical Society called him 'a quiet genius' with 'an intuitive capacity for grasping the essentials, getting to the point, and staying there.'
    He was inducted into the International Air and Space Hall of Fame (1986).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying