Southampton was the home of Supermarine.
From its earliest days, on the banks of the River Itchen at Woolston, through the devastation of the Second World War, when it was first bombed and then scattered throughout the city, right up to its last days in the rebuilt Itchen Works, Supermarine and its workforce were inextricably linked to the city.
1913-1928 – Origins
From its foundation as Pemberton-Billing Ltd in 1913, through its rename as Supermarine in 1916, the hiring of R.J. Mitchell as Chief Designer, to the first Scheider Trophy win in 1927 and the acquisition of the company by Vickers-Armstrongs in 1928.
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1928-1936 – Triumph and Disaster
Purchased by Vickers-Armstrongs in 1928 through the Schneider Trophy wins to R.J. Mitchell’s death.
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1936-1939 – Prelude to War
Expansion at Woolston, farewell to Hythe, new works at Itchen and Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport takes off. Supermarine gears up for war with the Spitfire as they struggled to meet the unprecedented demands on both design and production.
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1939-1940 – The War comes to Southampton
By the start of the Second World War in September 1939 the main Supermarine Works at Woolston, Itchen and Eastleigh were at full capacity. However, as the ‘Phoney War’ became first the ‘Battle of France’ and then the ‘Battle of Britain’ it was clear that an attack on the factories was inevitable, if not imminent, and steps were taken to begin a partial dispersal of production.
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1940-1945 – Destruction & Dispersed Production
A partial dispersal of Spitfire production had begun before the main works were attacked in September 1940 but following this a full-scale move to ‘dispersed’ locations throughout the city was rapidly undertaken whilst a more comprehensive plan was put in place.
1945-1963 – Return to Itchen
Following the War the Itchen Works were rebuilt and Supermarine returned working on the new jet aircraft like the Swift and Scimitar and Hovercraft like the VA-3.
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The Supermariners 