WONZ 281 - Wings Over Britain: Sandy's Spitfire

[Dave Homewood]

In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Tony Hoskins who is leading the team who are restoring Supermarine Spitfire PR.IV AA810, known as Sandy’s Spitfire. This Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) Spitfire was flown by Flight Lieutenant Alastair “Sandy” Gunn when it was shot down over Norway, and crashed. Sandy was taken prisoner by the Germans, and he eventually took part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III at Sagan, was captured, and was murdered as one of the 50 airmen executed after the escape.

The Spitfire wreck was discovered on a mountainside and recovered by Tony’s team, and it is currently being restored to fly again. Tony discusses the history of the aircraft and its pilot, Sandy, and talks in detail about the restoration and the research he and his team have done so far. The team is also working with young people, including apprentices and students, to either get involved with the rebuild and the research, or simply teaching them about the work this aircraft did, and about WWII.


cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2023/08/wonz-281-wings-over-britain-sandys-spitfire/

[planecrazy]

Wow, all these interviews have been great, love this chaps enthusiasm and bringing
the Spitfire to New Zealand wow again!

Thanks Dave, it is great that you take the time to chase these people down interview
them and share this with us all to enjoy, wonderful stuff.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Peter. It is my pleasure.

[ZacYates]

Thanks for that Dave, it was great to hear from Tony after so long reading his work online and chatting. Such a fantastic project that's been wonderful to follow and to think she's so close to flight...terrific! Another great ep.

[johnnyfalcon]

Fascinating project, and fascinating personality! His enthusiasm appears indefatigable! Great interview. I suggest that would be one of the easiest interviews you've conducted yet, Dave. It was self-sustaining!!

[Dave Homewood]

You're right John, but I did have to concentrate hard to listen to all the information that was being communicated, because I was unaware of both the Spitfire project and the memorial project. It was amazing to listen to it all for the first time, and try to think of a few questions to throw in. After I shut off the recorder, Tony and I continued to chat for another three hours or so about Spitfires, the warbird scene in both countries, and a lot more. He is a dynamo, and seems to be the perfect guy to run this sort of project given his background experience, his deep knowledge, his research skills, his contacts, his ability to teach and enthuse others, and his own unstoppable enthusiasm. I think he will do the PRU pilots very proud.

[Dave Homewood]

Please spread the word about this episode and this project, to make people aware of the National PRU Memorial.

[Dave Homewood]

Here is the latest update on this Spitfire restoration.

[ZacYates]

Dave, please forgive my poor memory: did Tony mention if he and the team had identified any Kiwi pilots of AA810?

And another two recent updates from Tony and the team:

[Dave Homewood]

No Kiwis flew AA810 as far as is known.