Flight - Sepia Saturday

 When I saw 'Flight' was the subject of this week's theme I decided to repost this from a blog I wrote in 2009. Enjoy the read.

The Thornaby Spitfire

The decision to site a replica Spitfire on a roundabout at Thornaby was quite controversial at the time. The aerodrome, now submerged by the buildings of the Thornaby new town operated from 1930 – 1958. The RAF’s 608 Squadron - the Tees Valley's auxiliary squadron, which was based at Thornaby during the Second World War - did not fly Spitfires until after the war. It flew Avro Ansons and, later, Lockheed Hudsons.

However Spitfires based at Catterick used Thornaby as a base in 1943 as was too far from the coast. Canadian and Polish pilots flew the Spitfires on sorties over the North Sea,

Both the cost and the size of a replica Hudson aircraft meant it was unfeasible to commemorate it on the roundabout. Consequently it is the Spitfire that took pride of place in the centre of the roundabout on the approach to Thornaby in 2007.

Funded in part by a lottery grant, the Spitfire was put into position by its Norfolk manufacturer on 8March 2007. A media blackout was imposed its erection as the local council was concerned that crowds would impede the operation. It was only on the day itself that the first TV recordings were made.

The fiberglass fuselage contains the insignia YO-T of the 401 Canadian Squadron who flew Spitfires in 1943 and B-RAO of the 608 North Riding (F) Squadron who flew the post-war planes. The replica was delivered in ‘kit’ form; the wings were attached on site prior to the plane being lifted on onto its plinth.

The Spitfire was dedicated on 1 April 2007 with representatives and an honour guard from RAF Leeming.

The plane is illuminated at night, although there have been problems with vandalisation of the lights. Information boards on the roundabout tell the history of the aerodrome. A model of a propeller, also erected, contains a map in the centre of the town from Google Earth with the old runways superimposed. The runways are now hidden beneath the buildings of the new town.

Thornaby streets have aviation links as seen in Master and Martinet Roads, De Havilland Way, Trenchard and Tedder Avenues. Mitchell Avenue is named after the designer of the Spitfire aeroplane – R J Mitchell. A pub also carries the Spitfire name; another pub is the Roundel from the circular red, white and blue emblem used on the sides of RAF aircraft/

A Thornaby Heritage Aerodrome Trail has been created, a leaflet for which may be downloaded from www.stockton.gov.uk.

{Photos by 'twiggles' sourced from flickr}

For more flights go to gate Sepia Saturday 121