Salisbury's Spitfire production sites to get commemorative plaques
While a date has been set to install a memorial to the fighter plane
After the bombing of the Southampton Supermarine Factory in September 1940, work to build the British Army's vital Spitfire planes was moved to Salisbury, without many people knowing.
In total secrecy 2,500 of them were built by hundreds of young women, boys, elderly men and engineers between 1940 and 1945.
Many sites across the city were used for production and eleven of them are now going to be recognised and honoured with a commemorative plaque.
Here are all the sites set to have one installed and what their purpose was during World War Two:
- McCarthy and Stone retirement homes, Castle Street - Fuselage assembly, construction of tail units and component parts
- Wilts and Dorset Bus Garage, 141 Castle Street - Wing production
- Salisbury Reds, 152 Castle Street - Fuselage assembly and engine fitting
- Old George Mall Car Park - Building of fuselages and tail units
- The Salisbury Rugby Club car park, Castle Road - Built by Supermarine, used for fitting out fuselages and engine installation
- Janspeed, Castle Road - Built by Supermarine, where component assemblies and wings were built
- A.J. Waters Garage, Devizes Road - Building of fuel tanks
- The Stones Hotel, Highpost - Air Traffic Control, accommodation for High Post Airfield
- Chattis Hill Aerodrome, now in private ownership - Where two hangars were built and used for final assembly, an experimental unit and test and flight
- Chemring, Highpost - Final assembly and flight test
- Highpost Business Park - Final assembly and flight test
The plaques were designed by Norman Parker, the late Ethem Cetintas and Chris Whalley, the chairman of the Secret Spitfire Charity.
They're being installed ahead of the unveiling of the 'Secret Spitfire Memorial' at Salisbury Rugby Club.
Nicki Beswarick, Divisional Marketing Manager for McCarthy Stone Southern, said:
"Ensuring that we retain as much of the history of the Spitfire is very important to us and with the unveiling of this plaque, we hope to keep that history alive for our homeowners and the people of Salisbury for many years to come."
STATUE TO BE UNVEILED IN JULY
The Secret Spitfire charity have now announced a date for the statue to be unveiled.
Work has been taking place to get the rugby club ready for installation and it will now be there from Friday July 9th.
They say the site has undergone a "huge transformation" over the winter and spring.
That's thanks to help by Susan Hampton, a Salisbury resident who has designed many private gardens in the area.
Susan said:
"It's a privilege to be involved in bringing this intriguing chapter in Salisbury's history to a wider public in such a significant way. On a personal note, it also brings things together rather neatly for me as I originally came to the city to work at the museum and am now in garden design."
FUNDRAISING CONTINUES
Meanwhile, the charity have continued their fundraising efforts and are looking for some more money to in order to make sure the statue will be looked after in years to come.
They're setting a new target of ÂŁ30,000, which will be on top of their already raised total of ÂŁ85,000 for installation.
To kickstart the fundraising, Secret Spitfire Charity Chairman Chris Whalley will be walking from Dover to Salisbury.
He starts the challenge on June 14th and will be done in three phases alongside his wife Lindsey.
Chris said:
"It has been a long, hard winter for everyone - but the light is at the end of the tunnel! This isn't the beginning of the end - we are simply another step closer to the end of the beginning."
Anyone looking to donate to the project can do so by visiting their website.