Flight of a Lifetime

IT was a sight aviation enthusiasts thought they would never see, so it drew spectators from the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, from throughout Australia and Sconeites got to see it in their own backyard, a Hawker Hurricane and a Spitfire flying together in formation.

See gallery of the Flight of the Hurricane below.

Of the 14,500 Hurricane’s built there are only half a dozen flying today and of the 20,300 Spitfires there are only 40 actively flying, so to see these two war birds flying together in Australia was a once in a lifetime opportunity and drew approximately 5,000 spectators.

Peter “Ando” Anderson, was the expert aviation commentator at the microphone and described the experience unbelievable.

A Hurricane and a spit fire in flight together in Scone.

“It is fantastic and unbelievable to think since the end of WWII a Hurricane has not flown in Australia and today we see it fly with a Spitfire, so they are two fantastic firsts for Scone,” said Mr Anderson.

“These are the aircraft that were the symbols of Britain during World War II,” he said.

“The Hurricane and the Spitfire were the fighter aircraft that defended the UK against the Luftwaffe in the battle of Britain and even thought the Spitfire received the notoriety it was actually the Hurricane which shot down more Luftwaffe aircraft than the Spitfire,” he said.

“The Russians flew them, the Brits flew them, they were flown all the way through every theatre of war, China, Burma, India, Europe everywhere,” Peter Anderson said.

There were often heated discussions about which was the better aircraft among the pilots who flew them but Peter Anderson recounts a story whereby the Hurricane pilots conceded that while they shot down more of the enemy, they could not have won the Battle of Britain  without the Spitfires.

“And both of these planes were rebuilt right here in Scone,” he said.

“In regards to war bird aircraft Scone really punches above its weight, ” he said.

The restored Hurricane is also a tribute to John Dallas Crossman a pilot who grew up in New Lambton and died flying a Hurricane in the Battle of Britain.

At the age of 14 John had the opportunity to fly with Charles Kingsford Smith and a passion for flying was sparked.

His first attempt at the age of 20 to enlist in the air force during WWII failed, but a year later he was flying in Britain.

During six days he flew two or three sorties a day, until he encountered and engaged 20 enemy 109’s.

He shot down many of the enemy, but he was also shot down and killed at Tablehurst Farm in East Sussex and was the eleventh Australian airman killed in the Battle of Britain.

There are two spitfires gradually being restored in the local hanger, so many people hope to return to see them in action in another couple of years.

“I am definitely looking forward to coming back and just look around the this beautiful area, it is the perfect backdrop for an airshow and the local support is incredible.”

Related story: WWII Spitfire Pilot Visits Old Friend.

The Hurricane was piloted by Ross Pay.

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The Hurricane was piloted by Ross Pay.