The Reginald Mitchell Statue in Hanley

By Leanne Kirtley: Items once owned to Spitfire designer Reginald Mitchell are expected to sell for up to £15,000 at auction.

Diaries, photographs and a briefcase are amongst the 23 items going under the hammer today (May 13) at Dominic Winter Auctioneers in South Cerney, Gloucestershire.

Mitchell was born in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, in 1895 and rose to fame after designing the Supermarine Spitfire for the RAF in 1933.

The most prized lot is a miniature of the Coupe d’Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (commonly called the Schneider Trophy), which is expected to reach up to £6,000.

The sale is part of a Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary and Dominic Winter, owner of the auction house, is expecting a lot of interest.

He said: “There can be no more important figure in the development of British aviation supremacy.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be handling the sale of such historically important items.”

For details call 01285 860006 or visit www.dominic-winter.co.uk.