SIXTY years ago the skies over southern England were filled with the drone of aircraft engines as British and German planes fought what was possibly the decisive battle of the Second World War.

German bombers and their escorting fighters battled for control of the skies with British fighters. Had the British lost, the German Luftwaffe would have controlled the skies, allowing Hitler's forces to mount their long-planned invasion of Britain.

Churchill had no doubt about the importance of the Battle of Britain, as his oft-quoted speech about "the Few" showed.

Prime factor

For those of use too young to have experienced the Second World War first-hand, the Battle of Britain conjures up images of black and white films and the screen bravery of the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots who flew out daily to fight the German fighters and bombers.

For Dr Gordon Mitchell, of Lower Slaughter, the story began long before the summer of 1940, for his father, Reginald (RJ) Mitchell, was the man who designed the famous Spitfire.

He is in little doubt that the plane his father designed was the prime factor in allowing the Allied pilots to stem the German tide.

As evidence he points to the words of former Spitfire pilot Air Commodore Alan Deere, who flew the plane throughout the war.

Top speed

In his contribution to Dr Mitchell's book, R.J. Mitchell - Schooldays to Spitfire, he said: "There can be no doubt that victory in the Battle of Britain was made possible by the Spitfire."

The plane had a top speed of 355mph, roughly the same as the main German fighter, the Me109E, but was constantly improved during the war years. In the end no fewer than 20,334 Spitfires and 2,455 of the naval version, the Seafire, were built.

Sadly Dr Mitchell's father never lived to see the impact of his design as he died in 1937 at the age of 42. Two years ago his achievements were commemorated in a new stamp issue, Architects of the Air.

n R. J. Mitchell - Schooldays to Spitfire is available for £14.95, plus £1.89 postage, from Dr Gordon Mitchell, Barn Close, Lower Slaughter, Cheltenham GL54 2HT.