Dartford Borough Council is marking the 75th anniversary of a pivotal air battle in Kent skies by welcoming a very special visitor to the town as part of its Battle of Britain Day commemorations.
Town centre visitors can experience what it was like to get up close to a true Battle of Britain icon when replica Supermarine Spitfire MK805 visits the High Street on Tuesday 15th September.
The full-sized replica Spitfire is the result of 25 years work by aircraft enthusiasts using original plans obtained from the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon. The cockpit contains all genuine Spitfire parts, including instrumentation.
Supermarine Spitfire MK805 will be on display in the High Street, close to One Bell Corner, from 9am to 6pm. Visitors will have an opportunity to take photographs with the replica Spitfire and see an exhibit setting out the history of the original aircraft that inspired its creation.
Spitfire MK805 will be accompanied by a display by Shoreham Air Museum about the Battle of Britain in 1940 and The ‘Borough of Dartford’ 1939 Leyland fire engine, which served in the National Fire Service during the Second World War.
The Council also hopes that a record number of visitors will join veterans and Members of the local Royal Air Force Association as they parade at the town’s War Memorial from 10.45am.
Councillor Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council, said, “Battle of Britain Day on September 15th is a very special day and I hope that many local people and shoppers will make a point of visiting the town centre to see the replica Spitfire MK805 and take part in our commemoration of the 75th anniversary of this remarkable event. Winston Churchill reminded us that ‘never was so much owed by so many to so few’ and we will never forget the extraordinary courage and selflessness of those few and all those who defended our country.”