San Juan Capistrano California United States
My name is Mark Harman Powell, and I am the proud Grandson of Spitfire Pilot, Harold Leslie Alfred Powell, who saw military service with the RAF between 1940-1945. He survived the war and went on to found a flying business out of Rochford Aerodrome. But I will post more information on Harold when I add him as a pilot on this website. My professional background is mechanical engineering on the product design aspects of research and development. Design programs I have worked on include: Jaguar, Land Rover, MG, Mini, BMW, Nike, Coca-Cola, Magellan/Thales Avionics, Harman/Kardon, JBL, Panasonic, HP, and now my current role at Ossur. Here I design orthopedic bracing systems for the sports and medical industry. My flying experience is as co-pilot only in planes as vintage as an Auster AOP9 to the modern day Cirrus SR22 complete with rocket powered emergency parachute. I know my grandfather would have loved one of those in his Spitfire! I live in California with my wife Kim and our British dog and cat. I happened upon this website while researching images of the Spitfires my grandfather flew. My other profession includes working for the automotive industry as a qualified test driver and high performance driving instructor for BMW Performance Center West. So as a pilot I fly low to the ground but try to stay on the track!! One day however, I aim to get my private pilots license and also hope I inherited some of my grandfather's skills in the air.
| About | Pilots | Blog |
| Contact Us | Aircraft | Volunteer |
| Support Us | Feed | Home |
Recent Comments / Questions * hourly refresh | ||
Thank you Robert!
Hi Robert,
Thank you so very much for the additional information. It is very helpful and is a fantastic lead for the family to follow up ...
on: pilots, 2026-08-16 ... details H F Astell
Also https://www.abingdon.org.uk/uploads/school/flipping/Role_of_Honour_1939-45/files/assets/common/downloads/page0003.pdf ...
on: pilots, 2026-08-16 ... details H F Astell
A F/Sgt H F Astell trained in the US - https://www.abingdon.org.uk/uploads/abingdonian/1942_Christmas_V008_N005.pdf - He was probably later ...
on: pilots, 2026-08-16 ... details ER557 Mustapha
Ray Bellamy flew ER557 pretty solidly through Feb/March 1943 - from 16th March onwards, at Victoria, it was almost his personal aircraft.
I ...
on: pilots, 2026-08-04 ... details Missing Spitfire flown after it went missing
This Spitfire went missing 19-8-41 about 4 weeks before my dad flew it 2-9-41!! ...
on: aircraft, 2026-07-24 ... details Ivan Edward Bull, 32 squadron RAF
Hi, is there any living relatives of Ivan Edward Bull, the pilot of 32. sq.?
Andrea
gojak.srdan58@gmail.com ...
on: pilots, 2026-07-19 ... details Contact
Robert Curnock, could you please contact me on john.engelsted at gmail.com as I am very interested in your father's flying career.
John E ...
on: pilots, 2026-07-09 ... details 607Sq
Hi,
My Dad flew with your Grandfather in 607Sq and I have a photo of them in Burma together with some other pilots. ...
on: pilots, 2026-07-02 ... details Lovely images
Great pictures! Always a treat to see an old pilot next to a Spitfire! Is any more detail available about his life? ...
on: pilots, 2026-05-10 ... details |
| About | Pilots | Blog |
| Contact Us | Aircraft | Volunteer |
| Support Us | Feed | Home |