Spitfire exhibition, Science Museum, London, 2005.

Visitor at 'Inside the Spitfire: Personal stories of Britain's most famous plane'. The Spitfire's design was almost perfect for the Battle of Britain in 1940, but continuous improvements throughout the Second World War kept it in the front rank of performance. On display here are items belonging to Reginald Joseph Mitchell (1895-1937), the Spitfire's designer. On the left is his briefcase and on the right, his drawing book from 1915.