Reginald Joseph Mitchell  CBE 

20th May 1895 - 11th June 1937

R J Mitchell's birthplace at Congleton Rd.

 Butt Lane with a  plaque clearly visible.

 This  plaque was recently restored, and  

 during the removal work an earlier plaque 

 was discovered underneath.

 RAF Stafford presented the Kidsgrove

 Rotary  Club with their own R J Mitchell  

 commemorative plaque, who during 2005,

 presented  it to the people of Kidsgrove and 

 Butt Lane on long term loan.

 It is now displayed in  Kidsgrove Town  Hall,

 where it was unveiled at a ceremony on the

 11/11/2005 by Wing Commander Tyler  from RAF Stafford.

Contrary to the various birthplaces given by some other websites and  

 publications, Reginald Joseph Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire, was  

 born on the 20th May 1895 at 115, Congleton Rd. Butt Lane. Stoke on Trent, 

 which is located between the town of Kidsgrove and the village of  Talke, here

 in  North  Staffordshire.

 All the founder members of this association  live within two miles of his 

 birthplace, making him our true 'local hero'.

 

The first Spitfire prototype K5054, shown here in its unpainted form during early 1936

 It is now 70 years since the Spitfire prototype, K5054,

  took to the air for the first time on the 5th March 1936.

  The rest as they say, is history.

  The story of our 'local boy' and his legendary designs will 

  be told on this site during the coming weeks and months.

 We will be covering his life and achievements in several 

  chapters.

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