A new documentary film has revealed the incredible untold story of the secret Spitfire factories where civilians built thousands of the iconic warplane.
In 1940 the German Luftwaffe managed to bomb and destroy the Spitfire factories in Southampton, believing they had stopped the British being able to manufacture any more of the famous plane.
But the British already had plans in place to manufacture Spitfires in complete secrecy in rural areas never associated with industry.
Young girls, women, boys, elderly men and a handful of engineers went on to build thousands of Spitfires that were hidden in garages, bus depots, barns, woods and even a hotel.
A new documentary film has revealed Spitfires were mass produced in secret factories around towns in southern England in rural areas never associated with industry before to prevent them being targeted in bombing raids by the German Luftwaffe. Pictured are workers putting the wings together with the fuselage of one of the famous planes, which were integral in victory during the Battle of Britain in 1940
Many of the workers drafted in to build the planes were women and children from the local areas in the absence of men who signed up or were drafted into the armed forces. According to historians the wartime industry was one of the first times in British history women were on equal pay and equal terms with men
Thousands of Spitfires were produced in these secret locations, with 2,000 built in Salisbury alone, around 10 per cent of the full number ever produced. The locations for factories were chosen to be as inconspicuous as possible, including bus depots, barns, garages and even a hotel
The documentary, pictured, was started after Turkish filmmaker Ethem Cetintas met 90-year-old historian Norman Parker, a Spitfire engineer during the war who told him about the secret factories and how thousands of planes were produced despite Nazi Germany believing successful raids on factories in Southampton had stopped production
Ater the destruction of Spitfire factories in Southampton, production was moved to smaller towns including Reading and Trwobridge, while cathedral city Salisbury was chosen because it had no links to industry at the time, with even the city centre used as a site to build the warplanes. They were supported by other local towns and cities which would help supply materials and workers
This secret was not even known by some of the workers’ families until independent filmmaker Ethem Cetintas, 64, stumbled upon it after speaking to 90-year-old historian Norman Parker, a Spitfire engineer during the war, who claimed that thousands of Spitfires were built in the centre of Salisbury along with Trowbridge and Reading, with many other towns and cities supporting them.
Mr Cetintas, from Istanbul, Turkey, said: ‘The existence and size of operations of these factories has never been told fully.
‘They were mainly referred to as dispersal factories supplying small parts to main manufacturing plants but no one is aware they were building and flying out complete Spitfires.
‘Girls and women were involved successfully in very high technology manufacture of warplanes along with ATA girls who flew them, on equal pay and equal terms with men for the first time.
‘They enjoyed full independence for the first time, earning their own keep, real days of girl power.’
Former Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) worker Mary Ellis is pictured here being reunited with a Spitfire she worked on during the Second World War. The ATA was responsible for building and repairing new and damaged aircraft while members would also often fly military personnel for urgent duties around the country and also performed air ambulance roles
Mr Cetinas said in the process of making the documentary he learned much of the building was carried out by young girls and women under the supervision of ‘a handful of engineers’. He said the construction of a warplane by an ‘unqualified workforce’ was a ‘tall order’ but praised the workers for their adaptability and their ‘incredible work’
The documentary, pictured, was produced by Mr Cetinas and long-term filming partner Karl Howman, with the pair spending two-and-a-half years on the production. In talking to surviving workers and their families they said they learned how secretive the workforce was, even keeping their duties from their own relatives
A crew of ‘factory girls’ pose next to a Spitfire they completed. Workers were rewarded for their efforts with parties and an influx of American-themed activities following the US’s entry into the war, including Glenn Miller concerts, Christmas parties for children, Joe Louis boxing matches (a sergeant in the local US army), ice creams and chocolates
Pictured are a pair of surviving workers visiting a garage previously used as a secret Spitfire factory. Spitfires were single-seater aircraft vital to the British war effort, designed as short range fighters used to intercept oncoming Luftwaffe raids. Although the fighters were outnumbered by the Hurricane plane in the Royal Air Force, they were the more successful vehicle and had a higher victory-to-loss ratio
Mr Cetintas lives in Sailsbury and had never heard of the story before his chance encounter with Mr Parker.
He contacted his long time film partner Karl Howman, who co-directed and produced the film, and they decided to shine a light on the unknown tale.
After working on the documentary for two-and-a-half years they discovered all the claims were true, including the construction of more than 2,000 Spitfires in the centre of Salisbury alone, 10 per cent of the full number ever made.
Mr Cetinas said: ‘A few remaining survivors from the factories were fortunately found who told their astonishing stories for the very first time which even amazed their present families as they were never fully aware what their grandparents did in secret during the war.
‘These ladies and gents knew how to keep a secret. Many of us are aware of the work civilians did during the war such as home guards, land-girls, ammunition factories, parachute manufacture and many others besides.
‘But a complete warplane, possibly one of the most advanced of its time, being manufactured by a mainly unqualified workforce is a tall order.
Mr Parker, right, served as a historical advisor on the 52-minute documentary, left, which is set to be broadcast later this year. The filmmakers are currently searching for international distributors and want to show the production in the towns where the Spitfires were built before Christmas
Mr Cetinas described the workers behind the factories as the ‘most selfless generation’ and added: ‘They did what they had to do and did their best without asking for any recognition.’ One of the purposes of the film is to show today’s generation what their grandparents really did during the war and give them the honour they deserve
Former Spitfire engineer Mr Parker is pictured getting behind the controls of one of the planes even at 90-years-old. It is believed only 54 Spitfires are still airworthy today with the majority of surviving aircraft being used for museum exhibitions around the world
Mr Cetinas said the work done by women for the war effort was ‘completely equal to men and should be celebrated’ adding that the workers still ‘will not hear a word said in their praise; we owe such a debt to them but they often are not willing to hear that voice of thanks’. Pictured are assembly plant workers putting the finishing touches on a Spitfire
‘If we add to that the fact it was mainly young girls and women doing the work guided by a handful engineers, completely in secret, makes this effort a very special one.
‘It also points to the incredible work women did very successfully during the war, completely equal to men, which is something to honour and celebrate.
‘As one of our present day RAF Spitfire pilots so eloquently said “that generation is completely and utterly selfless, they will not hear a word said in their praise, we owe such a debt to them but they often are not willing to hear that voice of thanks”.’
Mr Cetinas said the workers were rewarded with parties and an influx of American culture during the wartime years, giving them relief from their arduous tasks.
He said: ‘At a time of great sadness, they also had joyous times, especially with the arrival of the American GIs who outnumbered the population of many local towns and cities.
‘With them came dances, Glenn Miller concerts, Christmas parties for children, Joe Louis boxing matches (a sergeant in the local US army), ice creams, chocolates and broken hearts. As one of our survivors said, ‘you’re only young once, you’ve got to have the fun where you can find it’.
The documentary also features more recent flights by the aircraft, which are still occasionally used in demonstrations in UK skies, particularly around the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The film will also be shown at an upcoming television festival in Cannes, France, later this month
Joy Lofthouse, pictured, was one of the ATA pilots who would fly Spitfires along with 37 other types of aircraft in non-combat missions during the war. She signed up to the organisation in 1943 after seeing an advert in a magazine and has previously spoken of having to fight hard to convince superiors to allow her to fly. More recently she was back behind the controls of a Spitfire in 2015, flying one for the first time in 70 years
The documentary features interviews with some surviving workers, including ‘riveter girl’ Betty, pictured left in the 1940s and right in modern times. Riveter girls became an iconic image of the war and were used on propaganda posters on both sides of the Atlantic to encourage women to join the war industry
‘They did what they had to do and did their best without asking for any recognition, a selfless generation we owe huge thanks to.’
The 52-minute documentary is looking for broadcasters worldwide and will be at Espresso Media stand at MIPCOM Cannes from October 16-19 this year.
There are big-screen premieres planned around Christmas for the main centres where manufacturing took place – with venues being sought in Salisbury, Southampton, Trowbridge and Reading.
Local screenings have been done to packed houses with extended screenings as a result and DVD will be available for release as the outcome of MIPCOM is known.
For more information see www.secretspitfires.com.