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A SPITFIRE brought back memories of the war
as Suffolk children enjoyed a fly past. The Battle of
Britain plane made the memorial flight as youngsters enjoyed
their half term break.
It was arranged to get children interested in
the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society and to keep them aware
of the horrors of war.
Squadron Leader Paul Day, who is commanding officer
of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, was at the helm of
the Mark Nine Spitfire as it circled the Martlesham Control
Tower three times before flying back off to RAF Conningsbury
in Lincolnshire where the plane is based.
 Land
next to the control tower was packed with around 200 cars filled
with veterans of the Second World War as well as young children
who stood in awe as the plane passed overhead.
After the plane had gone, the control tower museum
was open and was crammed with people interested in finding out
about the history of the planes.
This was something the organiser of the event,
Tarkey Barker, was thrilled to see. He is an avid member of
the Martlesham Heath Aviation Society and became hooked on planes
when his father took him to see a Battle of Britain fly past
in 1954.
He said: "We need to see more young people getting
involved in the society as most of our members are now getting
older. Young people need to be aware of exactly what went on
in the war - if it had not have been for these planes and this
handful of people, who knows where we would be now.
"They teach them so much history in schools, but
it was 60 years ago and out of a text book it is boring - but
to see an actual Spitfire flying overhead is so much better."
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