Found this on Aviation History & Nostalgia Pprune Board, posted by Genghis the Engineer
RJ Mitchell Airport?
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The following was in the letters page of this month's "Motoring and Leisure", which is the magazine of the Civil Service Motoring Association - although actually tends to cover quite a bit more than motoring...
Quote:
The prototype Spitfire, K5054, made it's first flight at Eastleigh Airport on 5 march 1936. This was followed by intensive flight testing in the subsequent months, often with it's design R J Mitchell (my father) in attendance.
Flight testing of production Spitfires then began and continued testing throughou the 1939-1945 war and included the testing of all the new Marks as they were developed by Supermarine. In total over 11,000 Spitfires and Seafires (the naval equivalent) were test flown at Eastleigh Airport. Therefore the association between R J Mitchell and Eastleigh (now Southampton) Airport is collosal. Accordingly I would like to propose re-naming the airport as: R J Mitchell International (Southampton) in recognition of the historic link.
This is particularly important since my father never received any award for his endeavours and high honours, such as a knighthood, have never been awarded postumously.
If you feel you can support this proposal it would be much appreciated if you would write to the owners of Southampton Airport, namely the BAA. Please address your letters to: Mr Marcus Agius, Chairman, BAA plc, 130 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LQ.
I do have the goodwill of many influentual people, but this is going to need all the support I can get. Thank you for your help.
Dr. Gordon Mitchell, Cheltenham, Glos