Have you a tale to tell about legendary Spitty?

9:01am Thursday 18th January 2007

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IT was the talk of the town.

Eastleigh was propelled to world fame when it became the launching pad for the first flight of the Spitfire.

Townsfolk lived and breathed Spitfire as local production lines worked flat out on what became an icon for fighter planes.

There was always a buzz of excitement as the "Spitty" flew across gardens on its many sorties.

Now the High Street museum has launched an ambitious project to tell Eastleigh's Spitfire story through the memories, photographs and memorabilia of local men and women.

Record It is a follow up to last year when the museum celebrated the 70th anniversary of the legendary plane's maiden flight with an exhibition which attracted record numbers of visitors.

Project co-ordinator Stephen Hoadley said: "The Spitfire was really the talk of the town and the most famous aircraft in the world."

He said there had been a great deal written about the Spitfire but he believed there were many missing stories about how the production of the legendary plane touched so many local lives.

They want to hear from people who witnessed the first flight, including those who may have bunked off school to watch world aviation history being made.

Eastleigh Museum curator Sue Tapliss said they would be delighted to hear from people who worked in many workshops dotted around the borough.

Workshop She said: "We would particularly like to hear from people who have not come forward before or who can tell us what everyday workshop life was really like while they were making history."

Whether you were a pilot, an engineer, involved in production or design, working in the canteen or manning the defences around Eastleigh Airport or just growing up and witnessing history in the making you must have a story to tell.

The project will provide information for a local history pack which will be launched during early summer and an archive to be kept for future generations.

Former Spitfire pilot Dennis Bray, who lives at West End, is delighted that more is being done to remember a plane so close to his heart.

He said: "It is also important to recall the efforts of the local people who were involved in building and testing the Spitfire."

Mr Bray joined the Royal Air Force at 18 and the 225 Squadron when he was 20. He flew 100 sorties before he was demobbed at 23.

Recalling the power of the magnificent machine, the 83 year-old said: "I remember taxiing along the runway and opening up the throtlle. It was like someone kicking you in the backside and you were in the air."

If you have stories to tell or photographs and objects linked to the Spitfire contact Eastleigh Museum on 02380643026.