The gripping story of the pioneer behind the Spitfire told in a major new biography

‘Britain’s leading aviation historian’ Daily Mail

Reginald Mitchell is one of the greatest names in aviation history. A visionary engineer with a passion for speed, his legacy is the most iconic fighter aircraft of all time: the Spitfire.

During the uneasy peace of the 1920s, he was a trailblazing innovator working at the cutting edge of technology. As Europe’s politics darkened in the 1930s, the work of Mitchell and his team at Supermarine became crucial to a nation preparing for war. Though he did not live to see the Spitfire in action, his work led to triumph at the Battle of Britain – and to a legendary aircraft that still inspires awe to this day.

In this exhilarating biography, Paul Beaver takes us behind the scenes, exploring the creative genius of a man devoted to pushing the boundaries of technology. We see his flair for leadership and collaboration with Rolls-Royce, the pinnacle of British engineering; we learn of Mitchell’s other innovative designs that could have changed the course of the war, had he not died in 1937; and, at last, we hear the real story behind the Spitfire.

Drawing on new interviews, private archives and previously unpublished material, this is the story of a man who helped change the course of history – one of the great design leaders of the twentieth century.

Praise for Winkle:

‘[A] thumping great biography by Britain’s leading aviation historian’ Daily Mail, ‘Book of the Week’

‘Winkle Brown’s astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading’ Sunday Times

‘Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place’ Observer

‘The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero. Epic’ The Herald

‘An incredible life … Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable’ The Sun

‘Winkle Brown’s astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘[A] thumping great biography by Britain’s leading aviation historian’ DAILY MAIL, ‘BOOK OF THE WEEK’

*MARITIME MEDIA AWARDS BEST BOOK NOMINEE*

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Small in stature but immense in reputation and talent, there was more to Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown than met the eye.

From shooting down Luftwaffe bombers from the deck of a carrier in the Battle of the Atlantic and narrowly escaping death when his ship was torpedoed, to accumulating a never-to-be repeated litany of world records and firsts as a test pilot, his unparalleled flying career saw him take the controls of over four hundred different kinds of aircraft – more than any other pilot in history.

A rival to Chuck Yeager and hero to Neil Armstrong, by the time of his appearance on Desert Island Discs’ 1000th episode Winkle had become a legend in his own lifetime, and by his death, a national treasure.

But despite his enormous fame, there have always been mysteries at the heart of Winkle’s story.

Now, drawing on previously unseen documents and unfettered access to Winkle’s own personal archive, Paul Beaver uncovers the complex and enigmatic man behind the legend – the real story of Britain’s greatest pilot.

A story Winkle insisted could only be told after his death . . .

———-

‘Compelling, fascinating and frequently jaw-dropping. A brilliant and revelatory biography’ JAMES HOLLAND

‘Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place’ OBSERVER

‘An excellent biography’ PATRICK BISHOP, DAILY TELEGRAPH

‘The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero. Epic’ THE HERALD

‘A thrilling new biography’ DAILY EXPRESS

‘A thumping great biography of the flying ace who made Top Gun look tame … enthralling’ DAILY MAIL

‘Riveting … one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise … an incredible story’ FLYER

‘An incredible life … Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable’ THE SUN

MARITIME MEDIA AWARDS BEST BOOK NOMINEE

Small in stature but immense in reputation and talent, there was more to Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown than met the eye.

From shooting down Luftwaffe bombers from the deck of a carrier in the Battle of the Atlantic and narrowly escaping death when his ship was torpedoed, to accumulating a never-to-be repeated litany of world records and firsts as a test pilot, his unparalleled flying career saw him take the controls of over four hundred different kinds of aircraft – more than any other pilot in history.

A rival to Chuck Yeager and hero to Neil Armstrong, by the time of his appearance on Desert Island Discs’ 1000th episode Winkle had become a legend in his own lifetime, and by his death, a national treasure.

But despite his enormous fame, there have always been mysteries at the heart of Winkle’s story.

Now, drawing on previously unseen documents and unfettered access to Winkle’s own personal archive, Paul Beaver uncovers the complex and enigmatic man behind the legend – the real story of Britain’s greatest pilot.

A story Winkle insisted could only be told after his death . . .

———-
‘Compelling, fascinating and frequently jaw-dropping. A brilliant and revelatory biography’ JAMES HOLLAND
‘Beaver recounts the story of a man he regarded as a mentor in unshowy but fascinating detail, and restores a British hero to his rightful place’ OBSERVER
‘[A] thumping great biography by Britain’s leading aviation historian’ DAILY MAIL, ‘BOOK OF THE WEEK’

‘Winkle Brown’s astonishing adventures make for fascinating reading’ SUNDAY TIMES
‘An excellent biography’ PATRICK BISHOP, DAILY TELEGRAPH

‘The extraordinary story [of] a fearless pilot and decorated war hero. Epic’ THE HERALD

‘A thrilling new biography’ DAILY EXPRESS

‘A thumping great biography of the flying ace who made Top Gun look tame … enthralling’ DAILY MAIL
‘Riveting … one of those must-read books, compelling and full of incidents that leave you gasping with surprise … an incredible story’ FLYER
‘An incredible life … Brown took a secret to the grave that makes his story all the more remarkable’ THE SUN