The Birmingham Mail’s campaign to bring a Spitfire home to Birmingham, where thousands were made during the Second World War, is gaining momentum.

During its first week, nearly 200 readers have expressed support for the campaign calling for one of the Castle Bromwich built Spitfires recently discovered in Burma to be returned home.

Janet Rawlins a reader, whose aunt worked in the offices at the Castle Bromwich factory said: “It would be wonderful to bring back one of these iconic planes which helped win the Battle of Britain.”

Another reader, Brian Larkin who worked at the site of the old Castle Bromwich factory for 33 years from 1972-2005 said: “Until about 2000 some buildings still had the old camouflage on them and the reception area had a memorial area for all visitors to see its past contribution.”

Brian also remembers going to see the Spitfire displayed at the entrance to Castle Bromwich aerodrome in the 1950s.

Undoubtedly, the finest fighter plane in the allied arsenal, the Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell, the world’s leading aircraft designer, who was born at Butt Lane a village in Kidsgrove.

Because the Spitfire was designed by a man born locally, the Phoenix Trust believes a “Burma” Spitfire should come to Kidsgrove and calls on community and civic leaders to launch a campaign to obtain one for permanent display in the town centre.

Please email the Phoenix Trust at phoenixstaffs@mail.com if you would like to help bring a Spitfire to Kidsgrove.

Spitfire image licensed under the Creative Commons Creative Attribution License