Supermarine were one of the foremost manufacturers of both amphibious aircraft and seaplanes. Reginald J Mitchell joined the company in 1917. The companies main aim was to win the Schneider Trophy, which they did a number of times, culminating in developing the S.6 racer. In 1936, a new single seater monoplane fighter, called the Spitfire had it’s first flight. This iconic fighter has now become legendary and along with the Hawker Hurricane helped in the defence of the Battle of Britain.

After the war, Supermarine continued as a suppler of aircraft to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The last FAA aircraft, the Supermarine Scimitar was finally retired in 1969, bringing fifty six years of supplying the British military services to an end.