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The Royal Opening of Grandma Flew Spitfires!
Page last updated on Saturday, 05-Nov-2011
Exhibition and Archive by HRH Prince Michael of Kent: Maidenhead Heritage Centre (MHC).
23 veterans of ATA and other guests assembled in Maidenhead on October 19th 2011 to hear Prince Michael of Kent open the Grandma Flew Spitfires! exhibition and archive.
Pilots, flight engineers, air cadets, fitters and parachute packers were represented. AVM Stephen Hillier RAF paid tribute to ATA, and Peter Garrod (Commodore of the ATA association) described the life of an ATA pilot before the Prince declared the exhibition open.
Prince Michael, Patron of the ATA, then toured the exhibition and enjoyed a ‘flight’ in the Spitfire simulator, sponsored by both ‘wings’ of the Leonard Stillwell Bequest Fund as administered by the Spitfire Society, succeeding in executing a perfect barrel roll! - no doubt learnt whilst gaining his own ‘wings’ at White Waltham back in July 1962.
After the opening ceremony Prince Michael and the ATA veterans moved on to White Waltham airfield (home of ATA's HQ during World War II), where they enjoyed a private lunch at the West London Aero Club.
For more information on the Grandma Flew Spitfires facility, visit www.grandmaflewspitfires.org
Click on the thumbnails below for larger images: All photos copyright:Maidenhead Heritage Centre
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Also See:
- Grandma Flew Spitfires
- Opening of the 'Grandma Flew Spitfires' facility - 12th August 2011
- A new Museum to commemorate the ATA….
