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Press Release

3 June 2019

D-Day veteran takes to the skies

A very special event at Solent Airport has brought together local school children and a D-Day veteran in the run up to D-Day 75.

Ten pupils from Crofton Anne Dale School visited the Airport today (Monday 3 June), where they painted stripes on a Boultbee Flight Academy Spitfire. The stripes, which have become known as ‘D-Day stripes,’ were used during World War Two to indicate that it was a ‘friendly’ aircraft. This was crucial because it reduced the risk of friendly fire incidents.

The children were joined by 96-year old veteran, Sqn Ldr Alan Frost, who was then taken for a flight in the Spitfire after the paint had dried.

Sqn Ldr Frost flew a Spitfire over the Normandy beaches on D-Day and he spent time with the children talking about his experiences.

Chairman of the Daedalus Steering Group, Cllr Trevor Cartwright, said: “This has been an inspiring day. It was wonderful to see the children engaging with Sqn Ldr Frost and hearing his stories. I know it meant a great deal to Alan to return to the skies in a Spitfire, 75 years after that historic day.”

Fareham Borough Council will be marking 75 years since D-Day with a weekend long family event at Solent Airport, Daedalus on 8 and 9 June. For more details, including ticket information, please see: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/leisure/out_and_about_in_fareham/dday75.aspx

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Sqn Ldr Frost was taken out into the Solent, over the Needles, and along the white cliffs off the south coast. Aged just 21, he was assigned one of the first flights of D-Day and was airborne early, meaning he spent D-Day flying in his pyjamas underneath his flying suit!
Boultbee Flight Academy
The Spitfire was provided by Boutlbee Flight Academy. The Boultbee Flight Academy is the world’s only training school for Spitfire pilots, and the premier operator of Spitfire flight experiences for non-pilots. With HQ at Goodwood Aerodrome and their main base of flight operations at Solent Airport, they offer anyone the chance to fly in a two-seat Spitfire TR9, and the opportunity to take control of this iconic British fighter aircraft for themselves.