In 1939, the Minister for Aircraft Production in the United Kingdom had a bright idea. He promoted the possibility for individuals, companies, and clubs to donate a fighting aircraft towards the war effort. In return for their largess, the name of their choice was painted in 4in-high yellow characters on the fuselage in front of the cockpit. In your teeth, Krauts.
The idea took flight. Newspapers started funds for their readers in a race to be the first to donate their Spitfire. Communities and clubs started collections. In the time between 1939 and 1942, about 1,000 Spitfires were donated towards the war effort. Total production was just short of 10,000 in the same period of time.
A donation price list was published that asked for £5,000 for a single engine aircraft, £20,000 for a twin engine, and £40,000 for a four-engine craft. The actual cost of a Spitfire was almost £10,000, but prices were cited in view of attracting the public with a viable goal to reach. Spitfires were the most popular gift by far. Donations didn't come exclusively from the United Kingdom, either. Money poured in from Zanzibar, New Zealand, Iceland and you name any country.
Most donations were for a single aircraft, but there were people who donated more. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands donated £215,000 family money to purchase a full squadron of 43 Spitfires. Each of her aircraft was named after Dutch locations or possessions. Of all the donated Spitfires, there is only one still in existence. The Soebang (a railway head on Java under Dutch control until taken by the Japanese in 1942) was one of Queen Wilhelmina's plains and is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Even cash strapped individuals were able to donate. The Nizam of Hydarabad, the richest man in the world in 1939, donated a bucket full of rubies and emeralds to pay for the purchase of 12 Spitfires. His donation was the first for 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron. The pilots of this squadron received special badges made in Hyderabad as part of their uniform.
The collection efforts were as inventive as the names ending up on the planes. A manager of a London cinema collected during air raids; the total donations resulted in four Spitfires named MISS A.B.C. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The British Community in Brazil gave the Botafago (translates to Spitfire) named after a fort overlooking the bay of Rio de Janeiro. A Mr. Latham donated the Mah Tal in reversion of his name (I have no clue if he is related to flying ace Hubert Latham, maybe someone could investigate).
Nix Six Primus and Nix Six Secundus were a gift from Woolworths (playing on their price policy of not selling anything at more than six pence); a Mr Urie donated the Sans Tache after losing a bet and his moustache; the Skysweeper came from Hoover and the Marksman from Marks & Spencer. The Crispin of Leicester came from the shoe and boot makers there; the Dog Fighter came from the Kennel Club; the Nippy was a donation by the waitresses of the Lyons Corner House. The last Spitfire was donated in 1945 and was named the Winston Churchill.
Further reading
The First Flying Permits of 1909
Antoine de Saint Exupery and The Lost Prince
The idea took flight. Newspapers started funds for their readers in a race to be the first to donate their Spitfire. Communities and clubs started collections. In the time between 1939 and 1942, about 1,000 Spitfires were donated towards the war effort. Total production was just short of 10,000 in the same period of time.
A donation price list was published that asked for £5,000 for a single engine aircraft, £20,000 for a twin engine, and £40,000 for a four-engine craft. The actual cost of a Spitfire was almost £10,000, but prices were cited in view of attracting the public with a viable goal to reach. Spitfires were the most popular gift by far. Donations didn't come exclusively from the United Kingdom, either. Money poured in from Zanzibar, New Zealand, Iceland and you name any country.
Most donations were for a single aircraft, but there were people who donated more. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands donated £215,000 family money to purchase a full squadron of 43 Spitfires. Each of her aircraft was named after Dutch locations or possessions. Of all the donated Spitfires, there is only one still in existence. The Soebang (a railway head on Java under Dutch control until taken by the Japanese in 1942) was one of Queen Wilhelmina's plains and is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
Even cash strapped individuals were able to donate. The Nizam of Hydarabad, the richest man in the world in 1939, donated a bucket full of rubies and emeralds to pay for the purchase of 12 Spitfires. His donation was the first for 152 (Hyderabad) Squadron. The pilots of this squadron received special badges made in Hyderabad as part of their uniform.
The collection efforts were as inventive as the names ending up on the planes. A manager of a London cinema collected during air raids; the total donations resulted in four Spitfires named MISS A.B.C. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The British Community in Brazil gave the Botafago (translates to Spitfire) named after a fort overlooking the bay of Rio de Janeiro. A Mr. Latham donated the Mah Tal in reversion of his name (I have no clue if he is related to flying ace Hubert Latham, maybe someone could investigate).
Nix Six Primus and Nix Six Secundus were a gift from Woolworths (playing on their price policy of not selling anything at more than six pence); a Mr Urie donated the Sans Tache after losing a bet and his moustache; the Skysweeper came from Hoover and the Marksman from Marks & Spencer. The Crispin of Leicester came from the shoe and boot makers there; the Dog Fighter came from the Kennel Club; the Nippy was a donation by the waitresses of the Lyons Corner House. The last Spitfire was donated in 1945 and was named the Winston Churchill.
Further reading
The First Flying Permits of 1909
Antoine de Saint Exupery and The Lost Prince
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