An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July/August 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | VEtERAN'S NEWS VEtERAN'S NEWS VEtERAN'S NEWS The Listowel Spitfire and Commemoration by SEAN SHINNORS PHotoS by SGT MICK BURKE F ollowing on from a previous visit with the committee- members of the 'Listowel Military Tattoo', An Cosantóir was invited to their 5th Annual Military tattoo, being held on the weekend of Saturday 30th May. the day would include the launching of the 'Listowel Spitfire', a commemora- tive parade and wreath laying ceremony. The main square of the town was occupied by display stands from the following services: The Defence Forces, IUNVA, The Irish Coast Guard, The Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána. In the central display area was the historic full size replica 'Listowel Spitfire'. On our previous visit to Listowel we had the good fortune to see the spitfire up on blocks while it was being constructed. We were able to view the drawings on which the plane was based and we spoke to one of the project leaders Padraig Nolan, who explained to us what the spitfire project was all about. Pat Murphy and Padraig Nolan led this project and a dedi- cated team undertook the work voluntarily from the local combined Men's Shed Groups of Ballyduff and Listowel. The full sized spitfire with a wingspan of 36ft and measuring 30ft in length was constructed based on a copy of the origi- nal technical drawings of the personal spitfire of Wing Com- mander Douglas Bader. The special spitfire was painted in the wartime camouflage colours of Group Captain Francis Victor Beamish's AFC, DFC (with Bar) plane along with his initials FVB. The project to build the spitfire started the previous Christmas and took over five months to complete and is dedicated to the memory of Francis Victor Beamish, who was from Dunmanway, Co Cork. By recording up to 10 'Kills' during World War II he was classed as an ace fighter pilot and was named as one of Churchill's 'few' for the major part he played in the Battle of Britain. The Group Captain was one of four brothers who served with distinction during the war in the RAF. During his time in the RAF he was Station Com- mander at Weald and Kenley. Group Captain Beamish was killed in action on 28th March 1942 leading the Kenley Wing. Victor Beamish, the son of the late Charles Beamish and nephew to the Group Captain, made a very emotional and uplifting speech about his family's RAF service and sporting achievements. He also stated how proud and grateful the family was on the special way the Group Captain was remembered. Group Captain Victor Beamish's sister-in- law Josephine Beamish, wife of the late Charles Beamish, cut the ribbon, which was attached to the propeller to launch the Spitfire display. That afternoon the annual Veteran's parade led by an RDF colour party was held at the commemorative plaque at the town hall in the main square. This annual parade is held to commemorate all Irish men and women who died in domestic or foreign forces from WWI to the present day, including men and women of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and the Coast Guard. The following organisations paraded: ONE, IUNVA, The Civil Defence, The American Legion (Ireland), The Royal British Legion (Ireland), The Royal Air Force Association (Ireland) and the Munster Fusiliers Association. Many military and civilian dignitaries laid wreaths, such as: István Pálffy, Hungarian Embassy, Ryzard Sarkowicz, Polish Em- bassy, Col Sean Cosden, US Defence Attaché, Col Rory Radford, Canadian Embassy, Major Victor Milyutin Russian Federation Asst Defence Attaché and Superintendent Daniel Keane, An Garda Síochána Listowel. Wreaths were also laid by the vet- eran's organisations. The ceremony was completed with a minute's silence and was followed by a piper's lament including the Last Post, Rev- eille and the National Anthem. Wing Commander F V Beamish (right), the Station Commander of North Weald, Essex, standing with Squadron Leader E M Donaldson, OC 151 Squadron Wooden replica during construction with Padraig Nolan inset Victor Beamish giving his speech in front of the Spitfire Pamela Ingleby, Jo Beamish (Charles Beamish's daughter and widow), with Victor Beamish and his wife Lavinia Wreath being laid on behalf of the American Legion (Ireland) Military attaches and representatives

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