Reception Room

As you enter Hangar 42 - you will start your tour in what is believed to be the “Visiting Aircraft Office”. The decoration in the reception room was typical of Military establishments through 1940 and 1950. However – the image on your device shows how this room looked when the team took over the Hangar in 2015. There were no windows, doors, or ceilings; it has all been restored by volunteers, using funds from Public donations.

 

As you wait to enter – please read the information on the notice board on your left.

In the display cabinets - there are numerous genuine exhibits that typically belonged to the Pilot or Aircrew of the RAF during WW2.

On the walls you can see limited edition prints.  These are now quite rare - as they have been signed by well known Royal Air Force Pilots and Commanders from the War – such as Air Vice Marshal Bomber Harris - who led Bomber Command for the duration of the War - and well-known Fighter Aces - like Douglas Bader and Stanford Tuck. These great men - who played a key role during the war - and who’s efforts - especially in the case of Bomber Command - have only recently been formally acknowledged.

Before entering the Hangar aircraft area, you will see on the wall to your right - the “Wings for Victory Plaque” - and a “War Savings” sign. These plaques were handed to the District Council of Lytham St Annes - during the War years - in recognition of the fundraising efforts of the residents - to purchase items such as Aircraft, Artillery and Tanks. This was an effort made by towns and cities across Britain - in some cases – funds were even raised to purchase entire battleships for the Royal Navy!

In late 1939 - the Mayor of Lytham St Annes - was asked to start a “Spitfire Fund”.  These “fundraisers” were designed by Lord Beaverbrook, to encourage the British public to “dig deep” into their pockets - to support the war effort - and to build a sense of ownership and responsibility for those not on the war front lines.  The Lytham St Annes Spitfire fund was launched in earnest, with one eye on Blackpool’s own efforts to raise funds for their own Spitfire!  The public - young and old - embraced the challenge - and set about raising funds from coffee mornings, book readings, even selling prize earnings! Children from local schools wrote to the Mayor - enclosing their pocket-money for the fund. It was a true - and comprehensive - community effort.

 

By mid-1940 - the required 6,500 pounds had been raised - and the Mayor wrote triumphantly to Lord Beaverbrook, enclosing a cheque - for one new spitfire aircraft. They had also triumphantly beaten Blackpool to the finishline! The Air Ministry allocated Supermarine Spitfire W-3-6-4-4 to be named Lytham St Annes. On the wall you can see the original Photograph of the Spitfire Mark 5-B, as she was - the day she left the factory. Below the photograph - you can see the “Wings for Victory” plaque - awarded to the Borough - by the Air Ministry - which was proudly displayed in the Town Hall.

 

It was the discovery of a smaller photograph of Spitfire W-3-6-4-4 - which fuelled the campaign to build the Fylde Spitfire Memorial - located at Fairhaven Lake - just three miles from Hangar 42.  During a tour of the Town Hall in 2008 - Council Leader - John Coombes - discovered the picture - and many old files relating to the Spitfire Fund - stored in the basement of the town hall. This led to more research about the fund - the Spitfire - and her Pilot. After many months - the surviving family of the pilot - Sergeant Alan Lever Ridings - was found in Bingley - in Yorkshire.  Alan’s sister – Joan - told the story of how Alan was declared missing in Action - on the 23rd June 1942 - just days before his 21st Birthday. Alan - from Middleton in Manchester - was a cub reporter for the Oldham Chronical - before joining the RAF.  Learning to fly - he undertook his flight training with gusto - and his goal was always to fly fighter aircraft! He couldn’t believe his luck - when on completion of training - he was posted to 19 Squadron RAF, a Spitfire squadron.

On the 23rd June 1942 - taking off from Perranporth Airfield - in Cornwall – Alan’s mission was escorting Boston Bombers on a raid over Morlaix - in France.  The mission was routine - and no reports of engagement with enemy aircraft was reported. On returning to England - Alan reported seeing an aircraft go down into the English Channel - about six miles off start point. Alan began to circle the spot where he suspected the Aircraft had gone in. Looking for the pilot - and reporting the position to the ground controller – but running short on fuel - Alan was ordered to head back to the airfield. He never arrived. At 19:40 that day - Alan was logged as - “Missing in Action” - and his body was never recovered.

Our research later revealed that - the records of Gruppenstab of three Gruppe - and number Seven Staffel of Jagdgeschvader two - German Ace pilot - Oberleutenant Egon Mayer - reported two kill claims - at around 1730 - on the 23rd June 1942. We can assume then - that Mayer claimed the life of Sergeant Alan Lever Ridings as his 46th or 47th kill.

During the research of Alan Lever Ridings - we learned from his family - that Alan regularly visited his Grandparents - who had lived in St Annes-on-Sea.  The family still cherishes photographs of young Alan - and his Sister Joan -walking in the sand dunes - not far from Fairhaven Lake - where the Memorial to Alan and Spitfire W-3-6-4-4 now resides. There is a model in this room - of an extended memorial - which was originally proposed for the Fairhaven Lake site – however – due to costs – it was scaled back to what is there today.

If you have not seen the Spitfire at Fairhaven Lake - it is well worth making the trip.

To support our project in getting an airworthy Spitfire at Blackpool - Donate 5 pounds by texting – SPITFIRE – to 7-0-9-7-0.