Fairhaven Lake Spitfire Memorial

Not far from an edge of Fairhaven Lake there sits a Spitfire W3644 replica mounted on a pole, its restoration paid for with funds raised by residents of Lytham St Annes. This replica represents the one flown by Sergeant Alan Lever Ridings. Sadly, both plane and pilot were lost on 23rd June 1942. Thanks to the fundraising efforts by the Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team between 2009 and 2012, the public now has this fabulous memorial for visitors to enjoy.

The following is an excerpt taken from a plaque at the display:

Putting together a picture of what happened on 23 June 1942 has been an exercise in cross referencing accounts by various pilots, and squadrons that were involved in missions on the fateful day that Sergeant Alan Lever Ridings did not return to England. Reading 19 Squadrons Operations Record Books (ORB) leading up to the 23 June, they had just returned back to being fully operational as between 1-14 June the Squadron spent 14 days at the Group Air Firing Practice Camp at Warmwell. The Squadron only being required for Wing sweeps or an emergency. Leading up to the 23 June there had been little enemy activity encountered. At 1815 on the 23 June Operation Ramrod 23 was underway with 6 Boston bombers of 107 Squadron ( B, D, A, S, V and L) taking off from RAF Exeter having previously flown in from their base at RAF Massingham, Norfolk. The Bomber Command Squadron had been tasked to bomb Morlaix’s airfield in Normandie, France. 19 Squadron along with 130 and 234 Squadrons took off from Harrowbeer, Devon at 1830 as Cover Wing whilst a Czechoslovak Fighter Wing comprising of 310, 312, 313 Squadrons had already taken off at 18:20 from RAF Exeter, Devon as Escort Wing. The large formation of aircraft crossed the English coast at Start Point, Devon at 18:40 at a height of 500 feet until 50 miles off the French Coast when the group began to climb flying over the coastal town of Plestin at 11,000 feet. After an orbit
to starboard the bombers were seen returning after bombing Morlaix. The squadron rejoined the formation as fighter cover, recrossing the French coast at Tregustil. The bombers were followed back until 6 or 7 miles, East of Berry Head when three aircraft were Boston IIIs crossing the sea at low level en route for enemy territory in late 1942. The aircraft in the foreground sports the code letters ‘RH’ denoting 88 Squadron seen crashing in to sea.

Meanwhile the Czechs who had successfully escorted the Bostons, fought off an attack by IlI/JG2 Focke-Wulfs (two Focke-Wulfs Pw 190 kills and one Messerschmitt BF109 damaged, no own losses) and turned back for England. Just then a group of 29 Focke-Wulf 190s led by Hans “Assi” Hahn was climbing to intercept them on return to base, and the RAF squadrons had been alerted by their ground controllers. 310 and 313 Squadrons descended with the Bostons to gain speed, and 312th Squadron turned to engage the enemy aircraft. Close to the Start Point peninsula, still over the sea, they were attacked by Luftwaffe fighters. “Beware, Fockers from the right! They’re attacking! Hello Maiden blue and green, break away! Attacking!” orders Wing Commander Alois Vasátko. The formation of 312 Squadron breaks up and eight pilots of the Blue and Green Flight led by their wing leader start a counter-attack. At that moment none of the Czechs knew that they had just heard their commander’s last words. Diving on the eight Spitfires from high up about ten Focke-Wulf 190s from 7/JG2 led by Obersleutnant Egon Mayer appear. Vasátko Sharply pulls his spitfire BM592 carrying his personal initials AV on the fuselage, into a right-hand climbing turn, and  then it happened…

More Spitfire related content can be found at Hangar 42 Spitfire Visitor Centre, Gynn Square roundabout and Lytham 40s Weekend.

Mark Nelson takes us on a tour of the Spitfire Memorial Display in Lytham. In the video, he states that the Spitfire replica is half-size, but it is actually full-size, a mistake easily made because most don’t realise how small these aircrafts were compared to those of today.