WWII role of the real-life Blackadder
The role played by Sunderland’s own RAF base in one of the defining victories of the Battle of Britain has been immortalised.
A blue plaque has been unveiled marking the events of August 15, 1940, when the Hawker Hurricanes of 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, led by Flt Lt Francis Blackadder DSO, succeeded in defeating the largest daytime raid ever launched by the Luftwaffe on North East England.
The squadron was based at the former RAF Usworth – now the site of Sunderland’s massive Nissan plant – and the plaque has been mounted on the wall of the former Three Horseshoes pub, which served as the airfield’s officers’ mess.
The plaque is the brainchild of the youngsters of 2214 (Usworth) Squadron RAF Air Cadets, who are based close to the pub.
Flt Lt Dave Walmsley said the squadron had been looking for a way to mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
Dave, an officer and former cadet at Usworth squadron, said: “The raid was the biggest the Germans had ever launched in daytime and they never tried anything as big again because they had taken such a beating, but Francis Blackadder is not known about at all.
“It is particularly fitting that the cadets are involved because when Blackadder left the RAF, he became officer in charge of the North- umbria wing of the Air Training Corp.”
The plaque, which features the crests of the RAF, 607 (County of Durham) Squadron and 2214 (Usworth) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, was unveiled by Mayor of Sunderland Coun Lynda Scanalan and is funded by the city council’sWashingtoncommittee.
John Rostron, of the Washington Trust, which is identifying sites for more plaques, said: “This is the first of six that we hope to put up between now and June next year.”