GORDON Mitchell insists he has not given up the fight to get his father official recognition for the part he played in securing the Second World War victory.

Many people argue RJ Mitchell's Spitfire made victory possible in the Battle of Britain in 1940, ultimately saving Britain from invasion by Germany.

But because the revered aircraft designer died three years before his invention's finest hour, he has never received an official honour for his role in the success.

Mitchell was awarded a CBE in 1932 for his work designing high-speed aircraft.

But his son Gordon believes his father should still be recognised for the design that carved his name in history.

He says: "He deserves official recognition by means of some official honour. If he lived he would've been knighted without any doubt.. I really feel a sense of injustice about it."

Gordon has campaigned tirelessly in his father's name, contacting both the Cabinet Office and Buckingham Palace in a bid to have RJ posthumously honoured.

But he has been constantly frustrated in his efforts, repeatedly told none of the honours that would be fitting have never been, or will ever be, awarded after death.

Gordon believes the answer is the creation of a new lifetime achievement award for people like his father who never witnessed the results of their endeavours.

While he would also like Southampton International Airport, where the first flight of the Spitfire took place in March 1936, named after his father. There is currently a proposal to rename the terminal.

In August, the Science Museum in London is set to honour RJ's legacy with the unveiling of a specially commissioned statue of Mitchell and Battle of Britain exhibition.

A Battle of Britain monument, featuring the names of all the pilots and a plaque to honour Mitchell and Sydney Camm, inventor of the Hurricane, is also set to be unveiled in London's West End in September.

Don't miss the 48-page magazine looking back at 1945 - FREE with the Southern Daily Echo on Friday, April 29.