October 19, 2005 at 9:55 am
It was 64 years ago today that one of the most concrete examples of Spitfire Snobbery happened.
19 October 1941 P/O George Rogers of 400 Squadron flew his P40 through the bridge over the Winchester by-pass clipping it on the way through and losing three feet of wing.
Ever after it was known as Spitfire bridge.
Well, until they demolished it.
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 19th October 2005 at 15:20
Kittyhawk Bridge or Tomahawk Bridge !
Just putting up AH851 would be cheaper!
By: paulc - 19th October 2005 at 15:00
not many polar bears in Hants as we got the Rearwin restoration talk, not the Albatross one (but am very hopeful)
By: oag - 19th October 2005 at 14:47
Brings back memories – one of the first bridges of its type.
Great talk last night Melvyn – even my dad enjoyed it and they don’t call him Meldrew for nothing 🙂
Just don’t go getting chased by Polar Bears 😉 😉
(assuming you heard the same story we did in August???)
By: paulc - 19th October 2005 at 13:45
Brings back memories – one of the first bridges of its type.
Great talk last night Melvyn – even my dad enjoyed it and they don’t call him Meldrew for nothing 🙂
By: David Burke - 19th October 2005 at 12:52
Kittyhawk Bridge or Tomahawk Bridge !
By: EN830 - 19th October 2005 at 12:50
Ever after it was known as Spitfire bridge.
Must admit P40 bridge doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it ?????
By: Rocketeer - 19th October 2005 at 12:20
Yep renound as such by the locals and IOWers alike. But it was named effectively by the local populace who were mislead by the press to believe all war winning aircraft in the UK with single engines were Spitfires. The power of the press….I blame all journos!!!