At Clacton On Sea Essex Air show event on a much nicer day 2 Part 3 August 23
At Clacton On Sea Essex Air show event on a much nicer day 2 Part 3 August 23
https://youtu.be/1wzY0sLx35M
https://youtu.be/1wzY0sLx35M
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00:00Right on cue, let's have a listen to that Rolls-Royce engine from the Spitfire.
00:19Rolls-Royce have been powering aircraft for over a hundred years.
00:24The Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight celebrates that history
00:28by presenting this wonderful, famous Second World War aircraft powered by its engines.
00:58The Supermarine Spitfire produced in greater numbers than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War II.
01:1020,341 Spitfires were built in 22 different variants and the aircraft remained in production for 12 years.
01:22The prototype's maiden flight took place in March 1936 when Mark 1 Spitfires entered the RAF service in August 1938.
01:32The development potential of the original design allowed the Spitfire to establish and maintain air superiority over the defence of Britain
01:58and to keep pace with the performance of the enemy fighters throughout World War II.
02:03The Spitfire sported in every operational theatre of war and remained in RAF frontline service all the way up to 1954.
02:28The Spitfire Prelude accompanying this wonderful sight that we're seeing in Clacton as the Spitfire is high up in the sky now over towards the end of Clacton Pier.
02:48But those rounded ellipticals now, what a wonderful photo this is.
03:00A beautiful four-point hesitation roll there in the Mark 19 Spitfire flying for us this afternoon.
03:08It's the blue Spitfire in your air show programme and those with eagle ears will know that it's powered by the Griffin engine.
03:17This is an unarmed photo reconnaissance variant of the Spitfire and it bears its original wartime colour scheme in PRU Blue and original RAF serial number PS853.
03:48The PR Mark 19 was the final photo reconnaissance variant of the Supermarine Spitfire and she flew her very last operational sortie on the 1st April 1954
04:02when the Mark 19 flew a photographic mission during the Malaya campaign over the jungle in Chahor and that was thought to contain communist guerrilla hideouts.
04:18The Mark 19 was also the last RAF serving Spitfire type. The last of its edition was a temperature and humidity flight at RAF Woodville not being struck off all the way until June 1957.
04:39This aircraft has the capability to fly a maximum speed of 445 miles per hour but also to pirouette so gracefully above us today at Clacton-on-Sea.
04:53Beautiful, absolutely stunning and of course as we turn our attentions to World War II with this Spitfire, many of you may have watched the D-Day service from France earlier this year marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
05:08You might have seen the actor Martin Freeman as part of that broadcast on the BBC. He read some words from Joe Mines from the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
05:20Now Joe was in France for the service but he was too frail to read them himself.
05:26I've never been back here for 80 years. I've often thought what do I go back for after all the terrible things I've seen. Like a picture book up there I can visualize everything.
05:49I landed on June 6th 1944 at a place called Versailles. The Germans pulled back so it allowed us to clear the mines on the beach. That was the first job I got, clearing mines, clearing mines.
06:08One of our fellas trod on one and blew his leg off. The whole leg went. War is brutal. Back when I signed up I met a fella on the train. I went to Normandy with him but he got killed within about an hour of landing here. He was only young.
06:29I was 19 when I landed but I was still a boy. I don't care what people say. I wasn't a man, I was a boy and I didn't have any idea of war and killing. I was lucky. I had lots and lots of luck.
06:49So why would I come back? Well this is the last and only opportunity for me. The last there will ever be and it's because of the lads. I want to pay my respects to those who didn't make it. May they rest in peace.
07:08The words of Joe Mines from Hornchurch. He served with the 2nd Battalion, the Essex Regiment. That was actor Martin Freeman reading those words that he wrote for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. My goodness, I don't know about you but I have got goosebumps.
07:26Goosebumps central here on Plaques on Sea. Ian, as we just stood there listening to that wonderful excerpt, looking at the graceful manoeuvres of the Spitfire ahead of us on the beach, it makes me think of our ancestors and all those that served in World War II.
07:42Many of us had grandparents that served in the war. My grandfather was an RAF engineer based out in North Africa. It's hard to believe the sights and sounds they would have seen in the war, the horrible atrocities, but if it wasn't for their service we wouldn't have the freedoms we enjoy today.
07:58The Spitfire played a major part in achieving that ultimate victory in World War II and truly deserves its place. It's probably the most successful fighter design ever and certainly the most famous and charismatic of its time.
08:28Poignant music there as I think we wave goodbye to the Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX.
08:56Let's give a huge round of applause to welcome Sally B.
09:00Sally B is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe but flies in memorial of the 79,000 US airmen who died fighting in the skies over Europe between 1942 and 1945.
09:26The B-17 was critical to the US Air Force daylight precision bombing campaign and was armed with 13 machine guns, hence the name the Flying Fortress.
09:36They flew in formation, often in great numbers, sometimes up to 1,000 aircraft and in the early years of their serving in the war they didn't have the higher fighters escorting them so they really were at the peril of the enemy aircraft.
09:52Many, many men lost their lives in those missions and because of those German defences during the daylight raids they really had nowhere to hide.
10:01They suffered these heavy casualties and because of that they introduced the long-range escort fighters, the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang that later were able to protect them.
10:15Combat crews lives were measured in weeks rather than months and despite this high casualty rate the B-17 became famous for returning home with terrible battle damage and were fondly regarded by crews for this quality.
11:15So as Sally B approaches us at the centre of the beach you get a very good view of the 103 foot wingspan.
11:44It really is an immense aircraft and just have a listen as she passes by to those four right cyclone radial engines each producing 1,200 horsepower which flew up to 15,000 feet.
11:57At a maximum speed of 287 miles per hour she cruised around 150 miles per hour and she could climb up to 20,000 feet in just over half an hour and 37 minutes.
12:27So how come this incredible, incredible machine is here in the UK?
12:33Well she was built in Burbank in California just behind the Hollywood sign actually above Los Angeles and was delivered to the US Army Air Force in June 1945.
12:46She was used for training in the US then served as a mapping aircraft in France.
12:52The UK part of the story, well that comes along in 1975 when a guy called Ted White brought the Sally B to the UK.
13:04In fact she wasn't even known as the Sally B at that point.
13:07Based at Duxford Ted brought the aircraft to the UK to serve as a memorial to the 8th Air Force of the US Army Air Force and took it to air shows all over the UK.
13:19She became an instant hit.
13:21So where did the name come from?
13:23Well Sally B was the name chosen by Ted for his new aircraft for his partner Ellie Salingbo.
13:32The single yellow and black nose cowl honours Ted.
13:35We'll find out why in a moment.
13:37But this is such a rare aircraft.
13:40There's a handful of these flying in the world and yet just this one in the whole of Europe.
13:46Ted was a very accomplished pilot.
13:49He was very comfortable in this B-17.
13:52He was very comfortable winning prizes in sport flying as well such as the Malta Air Rally.
14:00In 1979 he bought and rebuilt a North American T-6 Havard.
14:05That finished product sported a yellow and black checkered nose.
14:11Hence those colours on this aircraft to honour Ted.
14:15The Havard was registered G-E-L-L-Y in honour of Ellie, his partner.
14:21In 1982 Ted and his friend Mark Campbell took the Havard to compete in the Malta Air Rally.
14:26Tragically the aircraft crashed with the loss of Ted and Mark.
14:32Deeply, deeply sad for the aviation world.
14:36But of course Ellie, his partner, was left shattered, alone and responsible for Europe's only flying B-17.
14:46What a task.
14:48Well friends and supporters of Sally B rallied round and helped Ellie keep this B-17 flying.
14:54She's guided her through some bleak times and engine failure back and forth.
14:59In bleak times and engine failure back in 1998 saw the aircraft grounded over winter in Guernsey.
15:05But thanks to the supporters club fundraising along with help from KLM and Guernsey Airport
15:11Sally B came home to Duxford in 1999 with a new engine.
15:18Now they don't come cheap. It was a massive setback.
15:21But the group, the preservation group that look after the Sally B are one of the largest aircraft preservation groups in the world.
15:29There's a lot of love for this Sally B.
15:31And it's just as well there's no government lottery or other institutional funding for her at all.
15:37So if you can help keep this aircraft flying and she's now in her 49th display season, can you believe? Incredible.
15:47Please visit sallyb.org.uk
16:05Now I know the team love to finish their display with a final smoke on pass.
16:11Punctuate that final pass with smoke coming from one or two of her four engines.
16:16And it's a dedication really to all the members, sponsors and team who helped keep her flying.
16:21So we'll see if that smoke is able to appear today for that final pass.
16:27Above all, though, she flies in honour and remembrance of all allied airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War Two.
17:11Great to hear the Memphis Belle theme.
17:14Of course, the star of Memphis Belle in 1990, Sally B.
17:18And there is that final smoke on pass.
17:21Let's wave to our pilot and say thank you for what you're doing and thank you for coming to Clacton today.
17:33Oh, that was fabulous, wasn't it? Absolutely.
17:40So the aircraft was split and we have a solo routine here from the Hawker Fury,
18:09just flying centre of the beach, heading up towards the J-Wig end of the beach, flying up high in the sky there.
18:16The Hawker Fury Mark II had been ordered by the RAF.
18:21They made 113 aircraft after the Fury Mark I, taking just over 200, so 230 RAF aircraft of the Fury.
18:34The first edition of the Fury actually flew as early as 1936,
18:38and her early success was in Yugoslavia, where the editions of the aircraft were ordered.
19:03In front of the BBCS's commentary box, Frank, Tony, Jill, Will, Kian and Bertie.
19:18And on cue, a high-speed pass there from the P-47 Thunderbolt Nelly, centre stage here,
19:25flying up high above us, doing a loop above the beach here in the P-47 Thunderbolt.
19:33She was a hugely successful high-altitude escort aircraft and formidable ground-attack aircraft.
19:40You can hear the wonderful roar of the Pratt & Whitney engine.
19:45This particular model was built in 1945 in Indiana in the USA,
19:50and she served with the US Air Force in Air Training Command in the last few months of the war.
19:55Up until 1953, she was a serving aircraft with the US Air Force,
20:01later joining a group of P-47s with the Peruvian Air Force, serving there up until 1967.
20:13Again, those stripes so distinctive on the undercarriage as we saw a wonderful view of the belly
20:20as it swept past us over the wind farm at Gunfleet and banking round now.
20:26And the slightly more whiter-looking sky with that high cloud,
20:31but the sun just glinting now on top of her as she...
20:35Oh, this is going to be good if you're on the end of Clapton Pier listening to Radio Air Show from BBC Essex.
20:40It's going to come right over you.
20:42Oh, very close. What a great shot that's going to be.
20:57So we didn't get to see this aircraft yesterday,
21:01but I'm glad that Joey, Lee and George have come from Canvey Island again.
21:07They came yesterday, they braved the weather, they've come back for more today,
21:11and they've certainly seen more.
21:13They've brought the sun with them too from Canvey Island.
21:15So great to have you with us. Thank you.
21:19So get the cameras ready. It looks like another high-speed pass.
21:23Listen to that Pratt & Whitney band.
21:25Can you hear them?
21:38Let's have a look at that pass, shall we?
21:41Yes, it does look like a face to us.
21:44cameras at the ready, it looks like another high-speed pass. Listen to that Pratt & Whitney
21:48engine from Nellie as she bounces past us in the middle of the beach.
21:53The P-47 Thunderbolt Nellie and the Hawke's Fury flown for us this afternoon by Ultimate
21:59Fighters. The company is owned and run by Richard Grace, the son of famous Spitfire
22:09pilot Nick Grace, who has a number of Ultimate Fighter Warbird aircraft that we've seen
22:13at Clapton over the years. Dave Pulliston flying the P-47 Thunderbolt this afternoon,
22:19a great friend of Richard's, known for flying the Seafire, the Spitfire, the Thunderbolt,
22:24anything with a grunty engine and Dave will fly it. Flying since he was 17 years old and
22:30a regular appearer as a Warbird airshow pilot.
22:42We are loving the show, Ian, says Donna. We are sat on Jaywick Beach enjoying this
22:47wonderful airshow. This is Teddy's first ever airshow, he's seven months old and he's here
22:53to help celebrate Grandad John's birthday. Happy birthday, love from Trish, Donna, Hayley,
22:58Eddie, Tom, Stuart, Kyle, James, Evie, Alfie, Reggie and Teddy. Sorry Ian, there's a lot
23:04of us. I don't mind at all. I'm glad you tuned in to BBC Essex, just round the corner as
23:10we look to the right on Jaywick Beach, which is their most fabulous beach. If you have
23:15time whilst you're in Clapton to take a walk that way, to your right, you won't be disappointed.
23:25So as Nelly, the P-47 Thunderbolt flies high above the sky over the sea here at Clapton
23:42Beach, you can think about those flying fortresses flying on the day like bombing missions into
23:48Germany protected by the P-47 Thunderbolt. Highly capable, high performance, high speed
23:54aircraft, they would spot the enemy aircraft and they would go and attack them to protect
23:59those flying fortresses. Really is such a poignant, important part of World War II history
24:06and one of the reasons for our ultimate victory in the Allied Nations. So let's leave the
24:14commentary point just for a moment and pop down to the green sword where Steve Scruton
24:19is and I'll come along Ian to the BBC Essex stage, which is something really different
24:25this year because you can have a go at reading the weather. Matt McKay here from BBC Essex
24:31is in charge of the display here. Matt, it's proving quite popular. It's proving to be
24:35incredibly popular actually, Steve. It's such a fantastic day today, it really is. The crowds
24:39are coming along and we, as you say, we're giving people the chance to be a weather presenter.
24:43That's a TV weather presenter. We've got really good equipment here for you to have a go.
24:49I think Steve, perhaps you could give it a try in a minute and maybe show us how it's
24:52done. But we've got cameras, we've got an auto cue.
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