Schneider Trophy Winner by Michael Turner  Flt.Lt. John Boothman takes off from Calshot in his Supermarine S6B to win the 1931 Schneider Trophy  A Moment of Triumph by Gerald Coulson  On the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September 1931, Flt. Lt J N Bootham, RAF, in a Southampton-built S6B seaplane, tore through the skies over the Solent to average 340.08mph round a 217-mile course.  This fly-over was sufficient for Great Britain to gain the Schneider Trophy outright since it meant that the event had been won on three consecutive occasions.  That it nearly didn't happen is part of the history of British Aviation, only timely sponsorship saving the whole Supermarine programme.  So ended an era in aviation history which, with hindsight, proved so important for the free world as it was from this remarkably-advanced design of airframe and engine that R J Mitchell's most famous aircraft of all time, the Spitfire, was developed.  Without the advances brought on by the development of the Supermarine racing seaplanes, it is doubtful that the technology required for the Spitfire would have been so readily available.  The Merlin and Griffon engines from Rolls Royce were also part of this programme.  These were to be the mainstay of the British Aircraft Industry during World War II and become a legend in their own right.  A replica of the aircraft which went on to set world air speed records can be seen in the Southampton Hall of Aviation, together with the legendary Spitfire. Dawn Dog Fight, Mick Mount VC by Graeme Lothian   High above the trenches in April 1918, 74 Squadron engage the famed JG 1 led by the renowned ace baron von Richthofen in his distinctive bright red DR 1. Edward Mick mannock flying a SE5.a diving down top engage another Fokker Dr1 as the red baron flies past momentarily catching each others eyes. The new CO of 74 squadron, major Grid Caldwell MC (bar) New Zealand's top ace can be seen above entering the dog fight. But it would be Mannock who would go on to great fame. with 61 confirmed victories and to win the VC, DSO (bar) and MC (bar). After 74 squadron he replaced Billy Bishop of CO 85 Squadron on the 3rd July 1918, scoring 46 victories in the Se5.a He was killed by ground fire near Lestram, France on the 26th July 1918. his Victoria Cross being gazetted on the 18th July 1919. The red baron CO of the Richthofens Flying circus didn't survive the month, also killed by ground fire on the 24th April, he was buried by the Allies with full military honours.