Hidden workers. Secret Spitfires. A WWII story

How do you turn a successful, 90-minute, cinema-released documentary into a compelling book? That was the challenge at the heart of our collaboration with documentary filmmakers Karl Howman and Ethem Cetintas on The Secret Spitfires.

Their film tells the remarkable story of an army of civilians – predominantly young women – who built around half of the RAF’s famous Supermarine Spitfire during World War II, working within a network of secret factories across the south and west of England.

The documentary was a hit but there was room to go further. The challenge was to enhance the story for those familiar with the film, while meeting the expectations of aviation experts and military historians and appealing to newcomers to both the documentary and the Spitfire legend.

Vision
Working with Howman and Cetintas, our ambition was to create a book that expanded and deepened the story without retelling the film or becoming yet another volume about the Spitfire. The aim was to use the printed format to reveal new material, bring greater technical and human detail to the fore, and give lasting form to voices and experiences only briefly seen on screen.

Importantly, the book would preserve the documentary’s clarity, focus and tone of voice.

Approach
We approached the book as a process of editorial curation as much as expansion. Working closely with Howman and Cetintas, we evaluated the full body of material – including extensive interviews, unused footage and archival sources – to shape a clear framework for the printed work.

From there, we led new research and re-examined existing material, including original photographs and documents, around a core thread of wartime production, engineering innovation and lived experience. This was strengthened through collaboration with Spitfire and Supermarine historian Norman Parker – a former Spitfire engineer – whose first-hand testimony and specialist knowledge helped refine technical details and the narrative.

The book introduced new themes, explored individual experiences in depth and gave greater presence to key locations. In parallel, we worked with the design team at The History Press who developed a richly illustrated format that supported the story and made complex material accessible.

Outcome
The result is a distinctive and authoritative contribution to the Spitfire story. Released to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, The Secret Spitfires has enjoyed successful print runs in both hardback and paperback.

The book has been endorsed by the Royal Air Force Museum and received national media coverage, reflecting the breadth of interest in the story and its reception among specialist and general audiences.