Rare Spitfire to make a stop in Cov as part of 50th anniversary

A SUPERMARINE Spitfire from the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands will tour the region this summer including a stop in Coventry.

The tour is part of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The iconic aircraft will visit four locations over the coming months, with other stops in Telford, Shrewsbury and Leicester. The warbird will be stopping in Coventry on June 18-19 as part of Coventry Food Festival.

The aircraft in question is a rare variant of the famous fighter, the PR. XIX. This version, introduced in June 1944, was an unarmed reconnaissance plane of which 225 were built and operated by No 542 Squadron at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.

These aircraft featured fully pressurised cockpits to allow for operation at high-altitude during missions. Families are invited to get up close to the aircraft and hands-on with the interactive activities on the ground.

The Telegraph also had a part to play in the history of one of the icons of the Second World War.

The Coventry Fighter Fund was launched by the Midland Daily Telegraph, a precursor to the Coventry Telegraph, which urged residents to contribute to the fund.

In three weeks £18,000 was raised - enough to purchase three Spitfires.

Don a battledress uniform, wartime flying jacket, pilot helmet and goggles before taking a seat inside a replica cockpit for an authentic Spitfire experience, perfect for a Spitfire selfie!

Museum ground crew will showcase a collection of wartime props, while sharing local RAF stories and details of the exciting aircraft displays, experiences and events visitors can enjoy at the Museum.

Barry Smith, RAF Museum

Director of Visitor and Commercial Development said: “This year the RAF Museum Midlands is celebrating 50 years of sharing RAF stories, and what better way to celebrate this than to take one of our most iconic aircraft out on tour.

“The RAF has a long history in the Midlands, and we’re excited to share these stories within the community, and with new audiences who may not have visited the Museum before.”