Liz Jarvis MP attends celebration of 90th Anniversary of the Spitfire at Southampton Airport
Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Liz Jarvis, has attended commemorations at Southampton Airport this morning on the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire. Earlier this week, Ms Jarvis led celebrations in Parliament by tabling an Early Day Motion that has been signed by a group of 54 cross-party Members of Parliament.
5th March 1936 saw the Spitfire take off from Eastleigh Airfield (now Southampton Airport) beginning the life of the iconic and technologically revolutionary plane that was used in multiples theatres during the Second World War. Two plaques and an informational display were unveiled in the terminal of Southampton Airport this morning.
Liz Jarvis, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, said:
“The Spitfire has an enduring legacy and will always be a source of pride for Eastleigh and the surrounding region. I was honoured to meet the relatives of some of the local residents who were involved in the design, construction, and testing process, helping to create such an important feat of aviation engineering which played a major part in the Battle of Britain, and other theatres of the war.
“I will be reflecting on the contributions of all those we lost in the Second World War, and my thoughts will be with our brave British service personnel stationed at home and overseas.”