With the success of
last years fete and
the first appearance
there of the Kent
Spitfire, the
organisers have
booked the aircraft
for this years fete
on Saturday July
11th.
Over the years the
fete has gained in
popularity and this
year is to be no
exception. ‘Spirit
of Kent’ is to be
flown by Dan
Griffiths once again
and with good
weather we can look
forward to some
impressive flying. A
new visitor this
year is the
appearance of the DeHavilland Vampire
which will be
displaying after the
Kent Spitfire. Pics
of last years
display are to be
seen by visiting
www.chelsfieldfair.com.
Once again it will
be a good day with
lots to do and see.
(Please note the
amended date of this
event)
Robin J Brooks on
behalf of Dave
Griffiths –
Organiser Chelsfield
Village Fete.
The
Kent Spitfire
returned to Biggin
Hill after three
days flying over the
Normandy beaches
during the June6
commemorations.
Flown by both Peter
and Clive, several
successful sorties
were flown over
Arromanches and
Caen. Looking down
at the veterans
below Peter remarked
he could almost see
tears in the eyes of
the warriors.
This was a personal
tribute that Peter
wanted to pay to
those who gained our
freedom for today.
Bad weather had
prevented the
attempts of the past
two years but 2009
saw almost perfect
weather allowing the
flight to go ahead.
For many of the
veterans this might
well be the last
year they attend the
commemorations in
Normandy but it was
gratifying to see so
many Air, Army and
Sea Cadets in
attendance.
Let us hope they
will carry on the
memory just as the
Kent Spitfire did.
The Kent Spitfire
Open Day at Manston
held on May 24 2009
exceeded all
expectations. Around
4,000 people flocked
to the former RAF
airfield now known
as 'Kent
International
Airport' to see Dan
Griffiths fly
'Spirit of Kent' in
the morning and in
the afternoon.
Resplendent in its
invasion markings,
Dan ensured that the
people saw the
aircraft from every
angle possible. The
afternoon also saw a
flypast by the nine
Hawks of the Red
Arrows who were
based at Manston for
the weekend and
flying at the
Southend airshow.
Also giving a
flypast was a
Eurofighter Typhoon,
another visitor to
Southend. However
the star of the day
was certainly
'Spirit of Kent'.
One drawback with
these open days is
that we cannot now
bring the aircraft
to park outside the
Spitfire and
Hurricane museum due
to new security
regulations at the
airport. It is hoped
that future
negotiations with
the airport
authorities will
enable the crash
gate to be re-opened
and allow the
Spitfire to park
alongside. It is
hoped to hold
another open day in
September. Watch
this space!
On Thursday May 14
the cameras of ITV
Meridian arrived at
Biggin Hill to
record a tribute to
D.Day to be
broadcast around the
June 6 period. Derek
Johnson together
with cameraman
Martin interviewed
the writer regarding
the history of
Operation Fortitude,
the decoy plans to
fool the Germans,
before speaking to
Peter Monk about his
own tribute to those
brave men who took
part in the
invasion. It is
Peter’s intention to
fly ‘Spirit of Kent’
over to Normandy and
along the invasion
beaches for the
veterans who will be
parading below. This
may well be the last
year that those who
took part in this
historic landing
will be able to
travel to France as
age takes its toll.
Hence the aircraft,
complete with
invasion stripes,
will bring a tear to
many of those below.
Bad weather over the
past two years has
prevented Peter from
going despite his
intentions of doing
so but this year,
with the promise of
a good June, ‘Spirit
of Kent’ will fly
once more over those
battlefields and
oceans where the
allies landed to
ensure us left
behind of a free
world.
The Kent Spitfire,
resplendent in its
new invasion
stripes, displayed
at the 100 years of
flight celebrations
at Muswell Manor,
Shellbeach, Leysdown
on Sunday May 3.
Flown by Dan
Griffiths, it was
part of the aerial
display organised by
the writer for the
current owners of
Muswell Manor.
Leysdown is the
cradle of British
aviation as the
first fledgling
steps in flying were
taken by members of
the Aero Club in May
1909. Aviators such
as J T C Moore-Brabazon,
the Hon Charles
Stewart Rolls and
others took to the
air from the tiny
airfield to become
the first Britons to
fly powered flight.
After a visit from
the Wright Brothers,
Short Brothers
arrived from
Battersea to begin
building several
Short/Wright flyers
for these intrepid
aviators. This was
the birth place of
all that we see in
the air today and it
was here at Muswell
Manor that history
was made.
Accompanied by
appropriate music,
the Kent Spitfire
arrived fresh from
Duxford and
displayed for 15
minutes before
returning to its
proper home at
Biggin Hill. To
great applause and
cheers, Dan
displayed the
aircraft to its best
at this home of
British aviation.
Our next appearance
will be at Manston
on May 24 when the
Spitfire will hold
its open day with an
appearance from the
Red Arrows.
Please note that
those attending the
War and Peace show
at Beltring in July
will not see, as
advertised in
various magazines, a
dog fight between
the Kent Spitfire
and a Messerschmitt.
Both aircraft will
be displaying
independently.
The first of two
open days in 2009
for the Kent
Spitfire will be
held at the Spitfire
and Hurricane Museum
at Manston airfield
on Sunday 24th May.
This is a free event
with flying, stalls
and much more.
We are fortunate to
have the Red Arrows
at Manston for
refuelling whilst
doing a display over
Dover and they have
kindly consented to
do several flypasts.
In addition the Kent
Spitfire will be in
attendance and will
hopefully be able to
park near the
museum.
A Stearman will also
be displaying on
what should be a
very good day,
weather permitting".
At this moment in
time I am attempting
to get together some
type of programme
for next year.
Anyone interested in
booking the Spitfire
for that special day
and display, please
contact Robin J
Brooks on 01622
675847. A free DVD
is available to
interested parties.
Saturday 15th
November saw the
Kent Spitfire in the
hands of Dan
Griffiths display at
a 65th birthday
party at Denton near
Folkestone. The site
was alongside the
Clip Gate Farm
Airstrip, a private
strip used by the
owner farmer and
friends. According
to Lynne, who
organised the
display for her
father, there 'were
tears in the eyes of
everyone'. Of course
a Spitfire was no
stranger to the area
as during the war
many fought in skies
above and many came
to grief in the
accompanying
countryside. With
fine weather and
clear blue skies,
Dan gave the
assembled friends
and family a day to
remember.
Robin J Brooks -
Publicity.
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.
The
Kent Spitfire
returned to Biggin
Hill after three
days flying over the
Normandy beaches
during the June6
commemorations.
Flown by both Peter
and Clive, several
successful sorties
were flown over
Arromanches and
Caen. Looking down
at the veterans
below Peter remarked
he could almost see
tears in the eyes of
the warriors.
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.