Spitfire flights brings memories for Nigel

The specially painted aircraft has been spotted up and down the UK after it was first flown at 8pm on the last ‘ClapForOurCarers’ Thursday.

After a positive response, Aircraft Restoration Company, which owns and operates the aircraft, organised several flights to thank NHS staff across the UK.

The public are now being offered the unique opportunity to nominate the name of a loved one that will be hand written onto the family-owned Aircraft Restoration Company’s blue photo-reconnaissance Spitfire to raise money for NHS Charities Together.

The JustGiving.com/nhsspitfire fundraising page is open.

Friday morning’s overflight at Craigavon was part of a tour of hospitals across Northern Ireland, incredibly the aircraft took off from City of Derry Airport at 10am, just 15 minutes later it was over Portadown.

For one local man it was an extra special treat, as Nigel Oates has got closer than most to the aircraft which became an icon for the Battle of Britain and indeed the Second World War.

Nigel served 15 years with the RAF and when he was based at RAF Coningsby he was on the ground crew that serviced the Spitfires on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - set up to preserve vintage aircraft such as the Spitfire, the Hurricane fighter and the Lancaster bomber. They serve as a reminder of the sacrifice of British and Allied airmen during the war and to inspire future generations.

Nigel, originally from Yorkshire but now living in Portadown, clearly delighted to hear the silky purr of the fighter’s Merlin engine and see its distinctive elliptical wing, shared his experience of working on the vintage aircraft.

He said: “I was very honoured to be able to refuel the Supermarine Spitfire (like the one) we’ve just seen fly over here at Craigavon Hospital. To see them and hear the Rolls Royce Merlin engine again has certainly brought back memories.

“A beautiful aircraft, also alongside the Hawker Hurricane and the Avro Lancaster, a real privilege to work on them.”

He said: “When they used to taxi by, going off on display somewhere, we’d be there to fill them up with av gas. We had to follow good procedure, we had to wait and as soon as we were waved on we had to be so careful and particular about where we would bring our hoses out to the aircraft to be refuelled.

“God forbid if you spilt any av gas or made a mess on the wing you had to have your cloth ready to wipe it away.

“A beautiful aircraft and actually to see and to hear, wonderful. I think that’s why the perimeter fence was always full of Joe Public crowds watching, no matter what time of day they were going out or coming back. Especially I’ve seen them alongside the more modern aircraft like Tornados and now Typhoons but to see something that is dating back to 1940s, I think everybody would rather turn their heads and look at that rather than any of the RAF jets.”

On caring for the vintage aircraft he said: “I think they have never gone through so much polishing in their life. And so they should be treated with kid gloves, they’re kept immaculate in every way. Even a walking on the aircraft wing you wear soft shoes and only certain people would be allowed near the aircraft, you couldn’t have any Tom, Dick and Harry clamber over. It took a real pride in wiping down, even the hanger was perfectly kept.”

Nigel got to work on the aircraft simply because he was based at Coningsby but added: “Having been a fan of World war Two aircraft to suddenly going from refuelling a modern jet to being told there’s a Spitfire or Lancaster coming in and going over, it was surreal, you just couldn’t believe. It felt like you were right back in Battle of Britain times.”