The First of the Few

The First of the Few US title Spitfire is a 1942 British biographical film produced and directed by Leslie Howard, who stars as R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. David Niven costars as a Royal Air Force officer and test pilot, a composite character that represents the pilots who flew Mitchells seaplanes and tested the Spitfire. The film depicts Mitchells strong work ethic in designing the Spitfire and his death. The films title alludes to Winston Churchills speech describing Battle of Britain aircrew, subsequently known as The Few Never was so much owed by so many to so few.

A newsreel sets the scene for summer 1940, showing Nazi advances in Europe with Britain facing invasion and aerial attacks on the island increasing. OnSeptember 1940, during the Battle of Britain, RAF Squadron Leader Geoffrey Crisp David Niven, the station commander of a Spitfire squadron, recounts the story of how his friend, R. J. Mitchell Leslie Howard designed the Spitfire fighter. His pilots listen as Crisp begins with the 1922 Schneider Trophy competition, where Mitchell began his most important work, designing high speed aircraft. While watching seagulls with his binoculars, he envisages a new shape for aircraft in the future. Crisp, an exFirst World War pilot seeking work, captivates Mitchell with his enthusiasm and the designer promises to hire him as test pilot should his design ever go into production. Facing opposition from official sources, Mitchell succeeds in creating a series of highly successful seaplane racers, eventually winning the Schneider Trophy outright for Great Britain.After a visit to Germany in the 1930s and a chance meeting with leading German aircraft designer Willy Messerschmitt, Mitchell resolves to build the fastest and deadliest fighter aircraft. Convincing Henry Royce of RollsRoyce that a new engine, eventually to become the famous RollsRoyce Merlin, is needed, Mitchell gets the powerplant he requires. Faced by the devastating news that he has only one year to live and battling against failing health, Mitchell dies as the first prototype Supermarine Spitfire takes to the skies. Crisp ends his account when the squadron is scrambled to counter a German attack the fight sees the Germans beaten, with the Luftwaffe losing more planes than the British. In the end, Crisp is happy over the victory and looks to the heavens to Mitchell, voicing a thanks to Mitchell for creating the Spitfire. ........

Source: Wikipedia