Kemble Battle Of Britain Weekend
Words and photography Mike Freer
The aim of the Battle of Britain airshow was to re-create the atmosphere of the 1960s, when most RAF stations would open their gates to the public on Battle of Britain Day.
On a beautiful warm and sunny autumn day, this aim was fully achieved and what better venue than Kemble airfield – now re-named Cotswold Airport – in the heart of the rolling Cotswold countryside. This year’s event was well supported by Rolls Royce PLC who sent along Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX PS853 from Filton and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from RAF Conningsby, with Avro Lancaster PA474, Hawker Hurricane II PZ865 and Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX PM631.
The Rolls Royce PLC Spitfire PRXIX PS853 is one of the original three Spitfires (PM631, PS853 & PS915) that formed the Historic Aircraft Flight (fore-runner of the BBMF) at RAF Biggin Hill in 1957. Being a high altitude photo-reconnaissance version of the Spitfire, it was originally operated by the Central Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson. It later served with the Temperature & Humidity (THUM) Flight at RAF Woodvale prior to joining the Historic Aircraft Flight.
The other Spitfire PRXIX, PM631, also served with the THUM Flight at RAF Woodvale prior to joining the Historic Aircraft Flight during 1957.Of interest was a short period of service with the Central Fighter Establishment conducting interception trials involving an English Electric Lightning. No doubt the Spitfire had no problem out-manoeuvring the Lightning. Both Spitfires appeared in the Battle of Britain film.
Hawker Hurricane II PZ865 was the last one built and currently flies in the markings of ‘Night Reaper’, the aircraft flown by the Czech fighter ace Flt Lt Karel Kuttlewascher DFC during night intruder operations from RAF Tangmere in 1942.
The final member of the BBMF trio to arrive at Kemble was Avro Lancaster Mk.1 PA474. She is only one of two Lancasters still airworthy – the other being in Canada and arrived with the BBMF during November, 1973. Having served with 82 Squadron, she later went on to fly with the Royal College of Aeronautics at Cranfield, testing the Handley Page Laminar Flow wing. She presently flies in the markings of ‘Phantom of the Ruhr’ a ton-up Lancaster that achieved an incredible 30 operations with 100 Squadron, followed by a further 91 operations with 550 Squadron.
|
|
)
|
)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
)
)
)
