Spitfire Fund posters

I did do some of the research at the PRO for Henry’s book, plus I helped with info on No 131 (County of Kent) Sqn. (Note full stop!), whose MKVbs were all presented either by the Kent county Spitfire fund, or various local Kentish funds.

The borough of Woolwich presented both a Hurricane & a Spitfire.

Try here for some good info on presentation Spitfires & presentation aircraft in general http://www.sturtivant.freeserve.co.uk/spitfire/

Geoff.

Silver Thimble Fund

Dave H

The two Dragon Rapides look like ‘Women of Britain’ and ‘Women of the Empire’ presented by the The Silver Thimble Fund and operated as ‘Air Ambulances’ from 1680 Flight at RAF Abbotsinch throughout the the war.

Mark

Cheers Mark,

On reading that the mention of the Rapide reminded me I have seen some reasonable famous pictures and I think film too of a Rapide in the North African desert which is in RAF markings, with big Red Cross markings and a subscriber name. A quick google found this photo. I think they may have been operated by the RAAF, or am I confused?

Presentation Aircraft

Dave H

The Spitfire was the most numerous in terms of public subscription funding but there were funds for Hudsons, Stirlings, Whirlwinds, Bolingbrokes, Oxfords, Hurricanes, Dragon Rapides and certainly others.

Waiting in the wings is a new book on ‘Presentation Aircraft’ by Henry Boot and Ray Sturtivant to be published by Air-Britain. I for one await its publication with much interest.

Mark

For that matter, did they have any other sort of aircraft fund raisers in Britain? Perhaps Lancaster Funds? Or Hurricane Funds?

I know here in NZ, as well as raising maoney for England’s RAF, we had local appeals too. During WWII the NZ Govt ran a Bonds For Bomber campaign, raising money for our own bomber force to defend NZ against the imminant Japanese invasion. It was VERY successful.

Was the Spitfire the only aeroplane that was funded in this way in Britain?