- Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 17th May 2023
- Another 80th Anniversary
- Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 31st May 2023
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 17th May 2023
In the week of the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters raid here’s a plaque remembering that the designer of the Lancaster (and Vulcan) lived in Southampton when he worked for Avro at Hamble. Who knows the address? (The answer is: 38 Chessel Avenue, Bitterne, Southampton)
Another link is the co-patron of the Southampton-based Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust, Squadron Leader Dave Phillips. Dave is the Senior Engineering Officer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and it’s him and his team of RAF engineers who get the BBMF Lancaster, Dakota, Spitfires and Hurricanes ready to fly.
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 22nd May 2023
Another 80th Anniversary
Following a Google trail to the “No 3 Personnel Reception Centre for Dominion aircrew and No 11 Australian Personnel Dispatch and Receiving Centre” (Where “High Flight” Spitfire pilot poet John Magee went on arrival from Canada) I realised it was The Metropole Hotel, Bournemouth, which was bombed 80 years ago tomorrow with considerable loss of life.
Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 31st May 2023
Anyone out there with connections – family or friends – to the workers at the Hants & Dorset bus garage that was on Winchester Road, Shirley, where Pure Gym is now – or the Sunlight Laundry that was where M&S/Pets at Home are now?
In particular, would like to hear if they worked there during the war when the garage was requisitioned by Supermarine for dispersed production of Spitfire wings after the factories in Woolston were bombed in September 1940. The Laundry was taken over for production of smaller components for the wings and fuselage.
Would love to hear from you with any stories in advance of the unveiling of the Spitfire Makers plaques that are due to be unveiled there in the next couple of weeks.
Please comment below and I’ll follow up with private messages. Thanks.
Wing-making and exterior Laundry photo, Vickers Archive and post war bodyshop photos shared by Barry Coom.
The Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust 