Spitfire Found in Council Basement

[Kyt]

Fylde Borough Council • Spitfire Found in Council Basement

We all have hidden gems lurking in our basements or attics but Fylde Council were pleasantly surprised to find documentation that the Fylde once owned a spitfire aircraft.

The discovery came as local historian, Peter Shakeshaft, and Councillor John Coombes were sifting through old documents in the basement. First a reference to a fund set up by the mayor of Fylde in 1941 and then a picture of the aircraft itself. Proudly named the Lytham St Annes.

The discovery comes as the council gets set to celebrate Veterans day and is a remarkable tail of the support of the Fylde for the armed forces and of tragedy as it was shot down in battle.

After a little research it was discovered that the Lytham St Annes Spitfire was a MkVb Serial No. W3644 bought with a donation of £6,000 raised by the people of the town in support of the Mayor's Spitfire Fund. The cheque was presented in April 1941. The aircraft was sent to Active Air Service Training at Hamble on the 1st August 1941 for repairs and although there is no information as to what these repairs were for or how the plane had become damaged, the plane was delivered back to RAF Brize Norton. From February 1942 she served with No 19 squadron, flying ‘Ramrod’ and ‘Rhubarb’ operations.

On the 23 June W3644 Lytham St Annes was shot down by a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 of the German Air force and crashed into the sea south of star point*. It's pilot was 20 year old Sgt Alan Lever Ridings No1058734 from Middleton in Manchester. He is commemorated on panel 92 of the Runnymede Memorial.

Leader of Fylde Borough Council, John Coombes said: “This story of the Fylde Coast and its people during the first and second world war is a story still to be told. These archive records held in the Town Hall show the generosity of the people of Fylde and their support for the Armed Services was as strong then as it is today. It would be great to hear from any resident that remembers donating to the Spitfire Fund.

“The Spitfire and it's brave pilots have always been held in admiration by the British people, it would be nice to investigate the possibility of a modern day "Spitfire Fund" to commission a painting of this aircraft with it's original wartime markings and tail number, and for it's local connection to be recorded and put on display for the local community to remember. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who thinks they can help with getting this project airborne.

If you can help, or know of anyone attached, in any way, to the aircraft, the council would be delighted to hear from you.

* Missing presumed shot down by Fw190 while escorting Bostons to Morlaix

Name: RIDINGS, ALAN LEVER
Initials: A L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 19 Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 23/06/1942
Service No: 1058734
Additional information: Son of William Pilkington Ridings and Edith Annie Ridings, of Middleton, Lancashire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 92.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

[Kitty]

very interesting. would like to know more about the squadron of spitfires bought by my home town's MP (Garfield Weston, a Canadian Industrialist) in 1940. he then replaced them all after they were destroyed in France.

Anyone know how to track down these kind of donations, as well as the Wings for Victories/Salute the Sailor/Soldier weeks?

[Ferhilt]

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing!

[Adrian Roberts]

he then replaced them all after they were destroyed in France.

Destroyed in France? No Spitfires were based in France before Dunkirk though of course they were in action over it. Maybe it was a squadron which suffered an almost 100% loss rate during the Battle of France and BoB

[Kitty]

sorry yes you are right. i have that much WW2 local history in my head i get it all mixed up. am currently concentrating on a destroyer so the RAF is a bit hazy.

[Antipodean Andy]

Destroyed in France? No Spitfires were based in France before Dunkirk though of course they were in action over it. Maybe it was a squadron which suffered an almost 100% loss rate during the Battle of France and BoB

That was my first thought as well. Kitty will clear it up eventually - sounds intriguing Kitty!