- F McCrae (d. 11 Sept 1940)
- David & Joyce Miller
- Arthur Richard Mines (d. Sept 1940)
- RJ Mitchell
- J A Moan (d. 11 Sept 1940)
- Margaret (Peggy) Annie Moon (d. Sept 1940)
- May Morris, Spitfire Parts Inspector
- Walter Henry Mullis (d. Sept 1940)
- Doris Cutter and Arthur ‘Joker’ Newland
- S Norbury (d. 11 Sept 1940)
- Henry John Noyce (d. Sept 1940)
- John Gilbert Olsen (d. Sept 1940)
F McCrae (d. 11 Sept 1940)
F McCrae worked at the Cunliffe-Owen factory at Eastleigh Airport assembling Spitfires and was killed in the bombing raid on the factory on 11th September 1940.
David & Joyce Miller
David was the chief fire officer for Supermarine at Woolston and later at Hursley Park.
Joyce worked in what was known as Hangar 4 at Hamble Airfield, repairing Spitfires
that were brought to them damaged by accidents or enemy action.
The number repaired – over 2,500, was a massive boost to the RAF and a massive surprise to the Luftwaffe who, counting the number of planes they thought they had shot down, didn’t expect so many to be taking to the skies against them!
Churchill said
“A vast and admirable system of salvage, directed by the Ministry of Aircraft Production, ensures the speediest return to the fighting line of damaged machines, and the most provident and speedy use of all the spare parts and material.” August 1940.
The photos show David as a young man, and Joyce and David on their wedding day. The photo of Joyce aged 98 in August 2023 shows her holding a brass Spitfire which was made for David by a Supermarine worker and presented to him when he retired. The photos also show the Merryweather 12 fire engine that David drove during his years at Supermarine. The engine has been preserved and is now in a museum.
Sadly, David passed away several years ago. Joyce passed away aged 100 on 1st September 2025. R.I.P.
Arthur Richard Mines (d. Sept 1940)
Image courtesy of The Supermariners and The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
Arthur was an Aircraft Fitter at Supermarine. He was 44 years of age when he was killed in the bombing raid on the 24th September 1940. Arthur is buried in South Stoneham Cemetery, Southampton.
RJ Mitchell
Visit the Supermariners website for more information on RJ Mitchell and the history of the Spitfire
J A Moan (d. 11 Sept 1940)
J A Moan worked at the Cunliffe-Owen factory at Eastleigh Airport assembling Spitfires and was killed in the bombing raid on the factory on 11th September 1940.
Margaret (Peggy) Annie Moon (d. Sept 1940)
Image courtesy of The Supermariners and The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
Peggy was a Clerk/Typist at Supermarine. She was also known as “The girl in green” as she often wore a green outfit to work. Peggy was 20 years of age when she was killed in the bombing raid on the 24th September 1940. Peggy is buried in St Mary Extra Cemetery, Southampton.
May Morris, Spitfire Parts Inspector
Image courtesy of the Morris family
Alan Matlock posted on our Facebook page on 20th October 2022
Today we visited a care home in Chandler’s Ford where Spitfire parts inspector May Morris was the guest of honour at a talk followed by tea and cake.
Like so many of her generation she plays down her contribution: “I never did anything spectacular.”
Wonderful stories and photos collected in a recent interview with May were included in the talk and other residents and staff were intrigued and amazed to find out the vital role she played in Spitfire production.
One of Churchill’s “Unknown Warriors”, May was 105 last month (September 2022) and is now known!
May Morris with Robert, Alan and Sarah from the Spitfire Makers team. Image: The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
Alan’s presentation on May Morris- Spitfire Parts Inspector
May was an active teenager and enjoyed camping trips to the New Forest with the Guides. She said she’d always wanted to join the RAF, like her older brother. He was at nearby RAF Calshot, the flying boat station, during the Schneider Trophy seaplane races and is pictured carrying ashore the victorious Supermarine pilot. However, after leaving school May’s ambitions were thwarted. She had to get a job and stay at home and help care for her mother who was not well.
When she was taken on at Hythe she was told she would be doing filing to start with. She thought filing would mean she was sorting paperwork in an office, but in fact she was given a file to work on metal parts. Her work was extremely accurate and she was very quickly asked to join the Inspection Department.
When working at Hythe, her boss, Mr Richardson, came up to her one day and said there was a Stranraer flying boat ready to go for a test flight and would she like to go up in it. She remembered “the name of the pilot was Pickering”. Sure enough, the Supermarine test pilot at this time was George Pickering.
She recalled excitedly, “I was sitting right behind the pilot and we went up to 10,000 feet!”
May passed away in September 2024 having just celebrated her 107th birthday.
“A life well lived. Rest in Peace May!”
Images and wording courtesy of the Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust, the Morris Family, and Southern Daily Echo
Please do not reproduce without permission
Walter Henry Mullis (d. Sept 1940)
Image courtesy of The Supermariners and The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
Walter was an Aircraft Riveter at Supermarine. He was 34 years of age when he was killed in the bombing raid on the 24th September 1940. Walter is buried in St Mary Extra Cemetery, Southampton.
Doris Cutter and Arthur ‘Joker’ Newland
S Norbury (d. 11 Sept 1940)
S Norbury worked at the Cunliffe-Owen factory at Eastleigh Airport assembling Spitfires and was killed in the bombing raid on the factory on 11th September 1940.
Henry John Noyce (d. Sept 1940)
Image courtesy of The Supermariners and The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
Henry was an Aircraft Storeman at Supermarine. He was 32 years of age when he was killed in the bombing raid on the 24th September 1940. Henry is buried in St Mary Extra Cemetery, Southampton.
John Gilbert Olsen (d. Sept 1940)
Image courtesy of The Supermariners and The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust
John was an Aircraft Erection Foreman at Supermarine. He was 29 years of age when he was killed in the bombing raid on the 24th September 1940. John is buried in St Mary Extra Cemetery, Southampton.
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust 