JET ART GALLERY / THE SPITFIRE STORY
Honouring the people behind the Spitfire and inspiring the generations who follow.
Discover the vision for a national monument in Southampton, the city where the Spitfire was created.
More than a tribute to a legendary aircraft, the project celebrates the ingenuity, determination and shared endeavour of the designers, engineers, factory workers, ground crews and aircrew who shaped its remarkable history.
Through remembrance and education, it seeks to keep their achievements alive and encourage future generations to explore aviation and engineering.
The National Spitfire Project is a registered charity working to create a landmark monument in Southampton, the birthplace of the Supermarine Spitfire. Its purpose is to recognise not only the aircraft and its pilots, but also the designers, production workers, engineers and ground crews whose collective achievements made its story possible.
The project brings remembrance together with education and public engagement. It aims to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of the wartime generation while using the Spitfire’s remarkable engineering heritage to inspire young people today.
For JET Art Gallery, that mission complements the purpose of The Spitfire Story: preserving history through the aircraft, the artwork and, above all, the people.
The landmark would recognise the people who designed, built and maintained the Spitfire, including factory workers and ground crews.
Beside Southampton Water, it would connect the city’s aviation heritage with the aircraft’s international story, while inspiring younger generations through engineering, education and remembrance.
The proposed monument at Mayflower Park, Southampton, is designed by architect Nick Hancock. Plans describe a dramatic 40-metre structure featuring a Spitfire sculpture at 1.5 times life size, a sweeping vapour-trail mast and a base incorporating roundels representing the nations that flew the aircraft.
Help turn the National Spitfire Project’s vision into reality. Visit the charity’s official support page to explore ways to contribute, including donation options and further information about the appeal.
Architectural visualisation of the proposed National Spitfire Monument at Southampton’s waterfront.
Southampton’s contribution. R. J. Mitchell and the Supermarine team developed the Spitfire in Southampton. Its production demanded extraordinary effort from thousands of people, including workers who continued under the threat of wartime bombing.
A shared national story. The project seeks to honour the many roles and nationalities behind the aircraft, ensuring that the achievements of those on the ground are remembered alongside those in the air.
Education and inspiration. The planned monument will combine a place of remembrance with opportunities to explore stories of design, engineering, service and sacrifice through public engagement and digital interpretation.
How to help. The charity is fundraising for the monument and welcomes donations, sponsorship and other support. For the latest plans and ways to contribute, visit the National Spitfire Project’s official support page.
