Day 194/18. Itchen Bridge from Supermarine slipway

This is a picture of the Itchen Bridge in Southampton today.
The bridge was completed in 1977 and it spans 800 m, is 28 m at its highest point and is still a toll bridge for vehicles.
Of particular interest to me though, is the slipway on which I was standing. This is the site of the former Supermarine Aviation Works. Prior to WWII many flying boats and seaplanes were developed, built in the (now demolished) factory behind me and launched from this slipway.
A Supermarine project team, led by R J Mitchell commenced in July 1934 designing what was hoped would be a much improved fighter aircraft for the RAF, which was given the designation Type 300.
Mitchell and his team continued to evolve the design, striving for the maximum performance they could get from the engine and airframe combination.
Within a month of receiving the initial data the Air Ministry issued specification F.37/34 to cover the construction of a prototype Type 300.
Given the name Spitfire by the Vickers board, the prototype first flew on 5 March 1936 at nearby Eastleigh airport and marked a revolutionary advance for the RAF. The Air Ministry was so impressed that on 3 June 1936 it ordered 310.
The Spitfires and earlier Hawker Hurricanes  were the mainstay of RAF fighter aircraft which fought off the bombing raids during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940.
Over 22,000 Spitfires were built, many on this site.