Thursday 7 February 2013

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING - SPITFIRE

I got a msg on facebook the other evening from a mate that the band
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING  are playing in Edinburgh on 7th May at the Caves.
I love this band and will be heading up for a night in Edinburgh to see them...

Their album `THE WAR ROOM` is ace and worth checking out...


Here is probably their signature tune and video.
I am partial to a bit of Spitfire film on youtube -:)

Footage is from `First of a Few` (1942 )film. The story of R.J Mitchell and his creation.
The Spitfire is probably one of the most impressive feats of British engineering, something that was ahead of its time, helped change the tide of WW2 and must have been the dreams of many young men to fly in one...
We now know today of the fear and adrenaline these you men - some really just boys experienced in air to air combat in a war that will never be experienced again in warfare..
What they did  turned the tide of WW2  as against the odds with the help of the Observer Corps and Radar Stations they stopped an enemy which marched across Europe and the world watched at this unstoppable regime.. until they faced up to a prepared RAF who would defend the skies over Britain and in course change the outcome of WW2...
As popular today in the public hearts when they display at airshows as when they protected the airspace over Britain.

Spitfires over East Lothian
It was here in East Lothian that the Supermarine Spitfire first fired its guns in anger when offshore of Port Seaton on 16th October 1939 when Spitfires of 602 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled from Drem and Turnhouse (Edinburgh) against 12 Junkers 88 bombers attempting to bomb the Royal Navy.
603 got the first kill off of Port Seaton, then 602 10 minutes later, the first enemy planes shot down over Britain since WW1.
There is work in progress to erect a memorial to this event in memory to the Spitfire Pilots, the German crews, and the fishermen from Port Seaton who rescued the downed German airmen...


This music video captures that Spitfire magic pretty well...

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