Shropshire Spitfire ace Allan in spotlight as new film takes off - watch the trailer
Shropshire Spitfire ace Allan Scott tells his story in a new documentary film and he was guest of honour at its world premiere, which was hosted by Carol Vorderman.
The film, simply called Spitfire, was previewed last night at venues including the Old Market Hall cinema in Shrewsbury and will go on general release this weekend.
Mr Scott, 96, from Wem, won the Distinguished Flying Medal and reached the rank of Squadron Leader, flying over 80 types of aircraft in his career.
Watch the official Spitfire trailer:
He speaks in the film of his time flying the iconic aircraft in combat, including in the siege of Malta.
Spitfire ace Allan Scott was a special guest at the world premiere of a new movie telling the story of the legendary aircraft which changed history.
Mr Scott was one of a number of veterans interviewed as part of the film and he was guest of honour at a premiere hosted by Carol Vorderman at Curzon Mayfair, in London.
The film has been described as "a cinematic, epic, sweeping tale of determination, vision and courage".
Mr Scott, who will turn 97 on July 27, flew the Spitfire in combat, especially during the desperate siege of Malta, battling heavy odds.
During his wartime action he probably shot down 13 enemy aircraft, although he was officially credited with six, enough to make him a fighter ace.
He won the Distinguished Flying Medal and reached the rank of Squadron Leader, flying over 80 types of aircraft in his career.
He says he appears in the film twice, adding: "I was sitting down and I was interviewed, answering their questions.
"Flying a Spitfire to me was wonderful – it was a wonderful aircraft. When you fly it, it becomes part of you. It becomes an overcoat, you fly it instinctively.
"You don't think about flying. You turn your head to go left and the aircraft follows you. It becomes part of you and, especially in combat, that is very useful."
Mr Scott said he was invited to the world premiere by letter and by card.
"I went with my son Murray, and Murray took his wife Julie. My girlfriend, Jo, came with me as well, so there were four of us.
"I thought it was going to be a red carpet effort, but it wasn't really anything to shout about at all.
"I appear in the film, which is a documentary, twice. It was good, and the flying was good, and the flying was part of it. I thought it would have displayed me more, but it was quite good."
In advance of its release the film was previewed last night in more than 200 UK cinemas and select RAF bases in the Falklands and Malta for one day only to commemorate the centenary of the RAF. These included two showings at the Old Market Hall cinema in Shrewsbury.
Among other preview locations were Southampton, the site of the Spitfire’s maiden flight and Supermarine’s factory; Stoke-on-Trent, birthplace of R. J. Mitchell, the Spitfire’s chief designer; and Solihull, close to the Castle Bromwich aircraft factory which turned out many thousands of Spitfires during the war.
Shropshire also has its own place in the Spitfire story, as 970 of the planes were assembled at GKN's Hadley Castle works. The fighters were also made at RAF Cosford and Spitfire wings were made at the Midland Red bus garage in Shrewsbury.
During the war there were combat Spitfire squadrons based at some county airfields, and also major Spitfire training bases at Rednal and Montford Bridge airfields.
Allan Scott's Spitfire story
As for Mr Scott's personal Spitfire story, he was posted to the Battle of Britain airfield of Biggin Hill in 1941 with 124 Squadron, before being sent to Malta, which was under siege with continual raids by the Luftwaffe.
He served there with 603 Squadron, and then when that disbanded with 1435 Squadron at Luqa airfield, before returning to Britain and flying a third tour of operations, switching from his beloved Spitfire to a long-range Mustang fighter.
After the finish of this tour he became a test pilot, which brought him to 27 Maintenance Unit, RAF Shawbury.
Ironically, having survived everything the war could throw at him, his luck finally ran out while giving an aerobatic display in a Tiger Moth biplane in Scotland in 1953.
A structural failure caused the plane to crash. He suffered serious injuries and needed many operations to rebuild his shattered face.
The Spitfire movie, which is narrated by Charles Dance, is being billed as "the story of an aircraft that was forged in competition, shaped as the war clouds gathered and refined in the white heat of combat – going on to become the most famous fighter craft ever made.
"Credited with changing the course of world history, this is the story of the Spitfire – told personally in the words of the last-surviving combat veterans."
