Watching the new Spitfire documentary I was struck (again) by how early RJ Mitchell died. The prototype (K5054) flew on 5th March 1936 - Mitchell gave up work in early 1937 and died on 11th June that year.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 1933. The Supermarine type 224, also designed by Mitchell, flew in 1934. It was rejected by the RAF, and Mitchell then went on to the Spitfire.
From wiki:
So if Mitchell's cancer is more aggressive and he dies in 1934, that will likely put a stop to the Spitfire development. Maybe we'd need to remove Beverley Shenstone as well, but that's easy - he learned to glide and ski in the early 30's, so there's plenty of chances to break his neck.
So there's no Spitfire to go along with the Hurricane.
What does the RAF do?
Make do with the Hurricane?
Buy lots of Tomahawks?
Bring the Gloster F5/34 into production?
Or (heaven help them) this convinces the RAF to go for the Defiant?
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 1933. The Supermarine type 224, also designed by Mitchell, flew in 1934. It was rejected by the RAF, and Mitchell then went on to the Spitfire.
From wiki:
Many of the technical advances in the Spitfire had been made by others: the thin elliptical wings were designed by Canadian aerodynamicist Beverley Shenstone, and shared some similarities with the Heinkel He 70 Blitz; the under-wing radiators had been designed by the RAE, while monocoque construction had been first developed in the United States. Mitchell's genius was bringing it all together with his experience of high speed flight and the Type 224.
So if Mitchell's cancer is more aggressive and he dies in 1934, that will likely put a stop to the Spitfire development. Maybe we'd need to remove Beverley Shenstone as well, but that's easy - he learned to glide and ski in the early 30's, so there's plenty of chances to break his neck.
So there's no Spitfire to go along with the Hurricane.
What does the RAF do?
Make do with the Hurricane?
Buy lots of Tomahawks?
Bring the Gloster F5/34 into production?
Or (heaven help them) this convinces the RAF to go for the Defiant?