Southampton, UK — Rare exhibits from Britain’s aeronautic heritage have been stolen during a raid on a Hampshire museum.
Raiders broke into the Solent Sky Museum, Albert Road South, Southampton, before stealing a number of items, including a cigarette case engraved with RJM – standing for RJ Mitchell, famed for designing the Spitfire.
Museum trustee Andy Jones said the cigarette case was stolen from a fireproof safe.
He said the burglars gained entry by smashing a glass door and made their way to the top of the building, where they used crowbars and sledgehammers to open the 6ft tall safe.
“Everyone at the museum is absolutely gutted,” he said.
“We believe the cigarette case is the only personal artefact of Mitchell’s that survives. It would have been on him when he designed the Spitfire and when he watched the first test flight.
“His test pilot, Jeffrey Quill, knew Mitchell personally and it was given to him by the Mitchell family.”
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