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Generally regarded as the best fighter aircraft of the Second World War, the Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell of the Supermarine aircraft company in Southampton. It first flew in 1936, but its association with Birmingham began two years later. By then war with Germany was looking increasingly likely, and the government placed orders for 300 Spitfires to re-equip the RAF. The Supermarine factories were unable to cope with production on this scale, so Lord Nuffield of Morris cars was asked to apply his expertise to the problem.

A huge new factory was needed, and the only city with a work force large enough and skilled enough to operate it was Birmingham. So work began at a site at Castle Bromwich, and by July 1940, when the Battle of Britain was beginning, the first Birmingham-made Spitfires were reaching the front line squadrons. They were only just in time; in September German bombers wrecked both Supermarine factories, leaving Castle Bromwich to bear the brunt of the production war.

Between June 1940 and December 1945 11,939 Spitfires were made at Castle Bromwich - 59% of the total production run of the aircraft. Other local factories also produced vital components. The courage and skill of the RAF pilots are rightly celebrated, but just as important was the ability of British industry to provide them with the equipment they needed. This was the justification for the claim made by the "Birmingham Post" on 8th May 1945: "There is an old saying that the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. It might well be said that the European war which commenced in 1939 was won in the workshops of Birmingham."

Category: Product

Institute: Birmingham Libraries Central Library

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