I was interested to read about the first Battle of Britain Flypast over London on 15th September 1945.
I understand it was led by Douglas Bader and nearly 300 aircraft took part.
A long shot I know but is anyone aware of any of these aeroplanes existing today still? In particular the Spitfires.
With thanks….
By: Russ - 23rd March 2008 at 02:08
Hi D-Day,
Thank you for your response. Not sure why I find the event so interesting. I guess that there was some sentiment towards the Battle of Britain, just 5 years after yet so many aircraft got scrapped at the end of the war and I often here that people had “had enough” by then… a feeling of apathy maybe?
Ashame that the only ‘Survivor’ was tortured by kids, quite sad. Any picture you can share would be most fascinating.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd March 2008 at 00:23
Russ,
The correct answer I guess would be no, in the strictest terms of your question.
However, If you have noted any of the many photographs of the ground preparations at North Weald for that 1st flypast, you may also have seen the well known collection of photos of D/B preparing himself in his personal Spitfire IX, believed to be RK917.
In a piece of movie film I have, the 3rd a/c ‘up’ is TD362, this Spitfire did cling to the unequal struggle for life for quite a few years, after service with the RAF it then became 430 with the Danish Air Force, after a couple of landing mishaps while used as a training a/c it was donated to a children’s playground and there suffered a terminal fate of… destruction by kids !
The remains being scrapped circa 1967.
I have various photos, pm me if you want one.
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March 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm