In association with
the
Shoreham Aircraft
Museum and the
RAF at War living
history group, we
will be taking you
back to 'RAF' Biggin
Hill 1944, and an
opportunity for you
to access a private
part of the airfield
and see 'The Spirit
of Kent' in one of
the original war
time 'revetments'.
No barriers or
fences and a
wonderful
opportunity for
enthusiasts to step
back in time.
As well as Spitfire
veterans and free
entry to the
staggering
collection of Battle
of Britain artefacts
at the Shoreham
Aircraft Museum and
your opportunity to
meet war time
Spitfire pilots
including Wing
Commander Bob Doe,
DSO, DFC* (234
Squadron Biggin
1940) as
well as those who
fly The Kent
Spitfire today.
Numbers will be
limited and tickets
available on the
day.
To register your
interest or
'reserve' your space
please
contact us.
Ticket pricing and
the days agenda will
be detailed later
this week.
With glorious
sunshine, Sunday
September 14 saw a
large gathering at
the former RAF
station of Manston
to enjoy a day of
flying and aviation
memorabilia. Located
next to the superb
Spitfire and
Hurricane Museum,
the morning display
opened with a
display by Richard
Meredith in his
silver Pilatus P2.
This was followed
later by a Stearman
of TG Aviation, the
resident flying
school at Manston,
flown by Dave Evans.
With several authors
on site to sign
their books and free
entry to the museum
plus stalls selling
everything from
aviation material to
clothes and flowers,
by midday all the
car parks were full.
At precisely 3.30pm
all eyes turned
towards Canterbury
as Dan Griffith
brought TA805 into
the circuit. From
then on it was eyes
upward as he
displayed the
aircraft for 15
minutes to rapturous
applause from the
crowd. Accompanied
by a commentary and
Spitfire music the
entire performance
was recorded on
video and placed on
‘You Tube’ where
people could re-live
the flying display.
It is hoped to hold
several such events
next year with the
emphasis on becoming
even bigger.
A
ceremony was held in
Sundridge near
Sevenoaks on
Saturday 23rd August
in memory of Flight
Lieutenant Pat
Hughes who died in
the defence of his
country on 7th
September 1940. He
was one of a number
of Spitfires from
234 Squadron
operating out of
Middle Wallop in
Hampshire vectored
to attack a large
force of enemy
bombers intent on
attacking London.
During a ferocious
battle, Pat Hughes
was seen to attack
one of the Dornier
17’s before himself
crashing at Darks
Farm, Bessels Green
due to the force of
the explosion of the
Dornier. Spitfire
X4009 buried itself
deep in the ground
with the body of the
pilot being found in
a garden nearby.
An Australian,
Paterson Clarence
Hughes hailed from
Haberfield, New
South Wales and in
1935, at the age of
seventeen, had
joined the Royal
Australian Air Force
as a cadet at Point
Cook. Two years
later he applied and
was successful in
receiving a
commission in the
RAF. He served with
Nos 64 and 247
Squadrons until
November 1939 when
he was transferred
to No 234 Squadron
at Leconfield. Just
before a move to its
new base at St Eval,
he had married
Kathleen Brodrick.
One month later he
was tragically
killed and was
awarded a posthumous
DFC for his bravery
in the dogfight.
Fl Lt Hughes already
had 12 confirmed
kills with several
damaged and
probables and was on
his way to becoming
one of the
outstanding pilots
of the Battle of
Britain.
The ceremony on
Saturday 23rd was to
dedicate a plaque
indicating the spot
where he fell to his
death and was
another dedication
carried out by the
Shoreham Aircraft
Museum who have
been responsible for
placing memorials at
several crash sites
within the Sevenoaks
area. A flypast by
the Kent Spitfire,
TA805, named ‘Spirit
of Kent’ and flown
by Clive Denney,
carried a piston
from X4009 in the
cockpit in a
poignant tribute
arranged by the
Museum.
Hailed as the
‘largest military
show in the world,
Saturday July 19 saw
the Kent Spitfire
displaying over the
arena to a capacity
crowd. Flown by Dan
Griffiths, his
arrival was timed to
12 noon when there
was the customary
firing of three
large guns in the
arena. At midday, to
the accompaniment of
deafening bangs, the
Kent Spitfire dived
down and entered the
arena to applause
from the huge crowd
gathered to watch
the re-enactments of
WW2 battles taking
place. With a clear
blue sky after a
very wet morning,
the impact was
immediate as Dan put
the aircraft through
its paces. With a
commentary and
appropriate
‘Spitfire music’,
the 15 minute
display left people
wanting more.
Talking to the arena
directors after Dan
had departed it was
hoped that if the
organisation ask us
back next year we
can do even better
with many more
pyrotechnics used to
good effect. Whilst
the War and Peace
show is mainly for
land based military
equipment, the
appearance of the
Kent Spitfire was
hailed as one of the
best ‘exhibits’ on
show.
If ever the power of
advertising need to
be proved, it
certainly was on
Saturday July 5 when
‘Spirit of Kent’
displayed at the
Chelsfield Village
Fair. Thousands of
people from as far
afield as Bromley
and Orpington
flocked to the
little village green
encouraged by seeing
photos of the
aircraft on the
posters advertising
the event. A
stunning display was
flown by Dan
Griffiths to a
background of puffy
clouds and a blue
sky. With roads
blocked and car
parks full to the
brim, the fair
proved the perfect
venue for the Kent
Spitfire. To the
many organisers of
village fairs out
there, if you want
to pull in the
people, advertise
the fact that the
Kent Spitfire will
be appearing.
Three days of fine
weather, though
rather windy, saw
the Kent Spitfire
display at the Kent
County Show at
Detling on July 11,
12 and 13 2008.
Flown on two days by
Clive Denney and one
day by Dan
Griffiths, it again
proved one of the
top attractions. The
Spitfire stand did
good business with
many people
inquiring about the
aircraft and where
it was to appear
next. Having flown
to great acclaim
over the past two
years at the show,
it is hoped the
organisers will ask
us back again next
year. The show is
all about Kent. It’s
farms, orchards,
lush countryside and
now, its own
Spitfire. How many
other counties can
boast the same!
The Kent Spitfire
was the star
attraction at the
Rotary Funday held
at the Kent County
Showground. Flown
superbly by Dan
Griffiths under
excellent
conditions, the
planned slot at
14.00hrs had to be
delayed until
14.30hrs due to
problems at Biggin
Hill. However, the
appearance of the
aircraft over the
North Downs ridge
and a live
commentary by yours
truly soon had the
huge crowd looking
upwards. Dan flew a
full 10 minute
display culminating
in a ‘wing waggle’
and a superb Victory
Roll. At the end of
the display people
were coming up and
asking questions
about the aircraft
and whether or not I
had photos and
mementoes of the
day. Unfortunately
all I could do was
refer them to the
website. Our next
display will be
three days at the
county show also
held on the former
airfield of Detling.
A very apt venue for
in 1944, squadrons
of Spitfires made up
the Detling Wing to
carry the war back
over the Continent.
We can not describe
the sense of
overwhelming
disappoint,
frustration and
immense sadness that
we have yet again
been deterred by the
weather today.
17t
The transit flight
from Biggin Hill
today has been
cancelled and as a
result we again,
have to make the
painful decision to
cancel our first
Audley End Spitfire
day, due to take
place on Saturday
31st May and 1st
June.
Whilst you have been
completely
understanding and
sympathetic in the
past we do feel that
now we have probably
pushed your patience
and goodwill and as
a result we will be
refunding your
ticket costs. We
will not be
rescheduling this
event at this time.
As you know the
voluntary time taken
in planning and
preparation is
immense whilst we
knew the format
would have offered
something very
memorable and
special, we clearly
can not deliver. For
that we offer our
deepest apologies
for the
disappointment we
have caused.
Above all, the safe
operation of The
Kent Spitfire and
the safety of our
pilots is of the
utmost importance to
us, at no point can
we ever let
commercial pressure
effect any decision
to fly the
aeroplane.
For those that
purchased tickets
and supported us we
are truly very
thankful.
Refunds will be
administered within
the next 7-10 days
by cheque.
The power of the web
has recently been
proved without
doubt. The second CO
of 131 (County of
Kent) Fighter
Squadron was Sqd Ldr
Pedley and I have
recently been
contacted by both
his sons. Both are
military men
with one of them a
Group Captain
commanding the
Maritime Patrol
System Program
Office in Australia
whilst the other is
a Squadron Leader at
the Central Flying
School of the Royal
New Zealand Air
Force.The fact that
a Spitfire is now
flying with the
words ‘Spirit of
Kent’ emblazoned on
the side of the
fuselage exactly the
same their Father’s
mount gave both men
a deal of pleasure
and pride. On their
next visit to the UK
they have indicated
they would like to
visit Biggin Hill
and once again see
the Spitfire known
as the ‘Kent
Spitfire.
One of the more
unusual displays for
the Kent Spitfire
took place at Bodmin
in Cornwall in
April. The last
request of a
Spitfire enthusiast
was that a display
was carried out at
his funeral.
Accordingly, pilot
Dan Griffiths took
‘Spirit of Kent’ to
the wake which was
held in the family
garden. A seven
minute display over
the gathered family
and friends ensured
that the person
concerned did indeed
have the best of
‘send off’s’.
After its annual
service and
check-up, ‘Spirit of
Kent’ is now back at
its home base at
Biggin Hill.
The first of two
Kent Spitfire Open
Days will take place
on Sunday May 25
2008 at Manston
airfield in Kent.
(Now known as Kent
International
Airport). Held in
conjunction with the
Spitfire and
Hurricane Museum,
this is a free event
to allow the people
of Kent to come and
see their own
Spitfire, a mark 9
named ‘Spirit of
Kent’. Several other
aircraft have
indicated that they
would like to attend
and the afternoon
will see a flying
display by those
attending together
with a display by
‘Spirit of Kent’.
The museum and
restaurant will be
open all day with
trade stands
situated nearby.
Events will begin
around 10.00hrs with
the last display by
‘Spirit of Kent’
around 15.30hrs.
Some future dates in
Kent where the
aircraft will be
displaying are the
Biggin Hill Air Fair
(June 7 and 8),
Rotary Open Day at
Detling Showground
(June 15), the Kent
County Show (July
11,12 and 13) again
at the Detling
Showground and the
War and Peace Show
at the Hop Farm
(July 19). Further
dates will be added
later.
FURTHER KENT
SPITFIRE DATES
In addition to those
already mentioned
above I have just
received notice that
‘Spirit of Kent’
will be displaying
at Ramsbury on
Saturday May 10
followed by a
flypast on Saturday
May 17 for the
Shoreham Aircraft
Museum. This is in
conjunction with a
memorial to be
erected at the crash
site of a Battle of
Britain pilot near
Chelsfield. The
following week the
aircraft will be
displaying at the
Kent Battle of
Britain Museum at
Hawkinge on Saturday
May 24 in the
afternoon and in
addition to the
Spitfire Open Day at
Manston on the
Sunday will also be
displaying at the
Southend Seafront
Airshow the same
day. Southend will
be repeated on the
Monday Bank holiday
before ‘Spirit of
Kent’ flies to
Normandy on Tuesday
June 3 for the D.Day
commemorations. The
aircraft will return
to the UK on Friday
June 6 in time for
the Biggin Hill Air
Fair.
Monday June 23 will
see ‘Spirit of Kent’
fly to Poland for a
week of
commemorations, the
first time in many
years that a
Spitfire has been
seen in the skies
above Krakow.
For people visiting
the website for the
first time, please
note that Kent
Spitfire merchandise
is now on sale at
the Kent Battle of
Britain Museum on
the former airfield
at Hawkinge near
Folkestone. (www.kbobm.org).
A
ceremony was held in
Sundridge near
Sevenoaks on
Saturday 23rd August
in memory of Flight
Lieutenant Pat
Hughes who died in
the defence of his
country on 7th
September 1940. He
was one of a number
of Spitfires from
234 Squadron
operating out of
Middle Wallop in
Hampshire vectored
to attack a large
force of enemy
bombers intent on
attacking London.
During a ferocious
battle, Pat Hughes
was seen to attack
one of the Dornier
17’s before himself
crashing at Darks
Farm, Bessels Green
due to the force of
the explosion of the
Dornier. Spitfire
X4009 buried itself
deep in the ground
with the body of the
pilot being found in
a garden nearby.