The Rochdale Spitfire Fund

With war raging across Europe, and the Battle of Britain taking its toll on fighter command, both in terms of aircraft and men, many residents of the Borough wrote to the Rochdale Observer expressing their desire to help in some way to fund the purchase of more fighters for the RAF, so was born the "Rochdale Observer Spitfire Appeal"

William Crossley of Holmefield, Spotland wrote to the editor saying;

Sir, 

For several weeks I have had in my mind to suggest to you the Rochdale ought to give a fighter plane to the Government.

I would gladly give a small portion, say £100, towards such a fund. I feel sure you could successfully raise the sum required, as all classes, rich and poor, would welcome the opportunity as a thank-offering for the wonderful achievements of our RAF boys.

Yours,

William Crossley 

The cost of brand new Spitfire in 1940 was £5000, the Observer thought that it was highly achievable to be able to raise such a large amount from the residents of the town, the "Spitfire fund" was born.

Talk of the German air invasion was rife, the Battle of Britain had begun, in a little under a week of the German air assault, 381 Luftwaffe aircraft had been shot down, the RAF meanwhile had lost 78, 20 of the RAF fighter pilots that had been shot down were saved, either by baling out of their stricken machines and managing to land without causing too much damage to themselves.

Within days of the fund being launched, donations began to pour into the Observer offices,  Mr E.B. Clegg J.P. of Shore, Littleborough pledged £500, the proprietors of the Rochdale Observer matched this generous gift.

Many of the well to do business people of the town pledged large amounts, Mr P.W. Greenhalgh of High Bank, Newhey gave £10, Alderman H. Wycherley gave £25, and so it went on.

Fund raising events were arranged around the town, one of the most common being whist drives arranged by some of the "well to do" ladies.

On November 23rd 1940, the fund finally closed with a total of £12,250, organised by the Rochdale Observer on behalf of the people of Rochdale and District.

Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister for aircraft production wrote a letter to be published the Observer;

The total now subscribed by the people of Rochdale for the purchase of fighter aircraft is one which you and your fellow citizens have every right to be proud.

You have placed your Borough in the foremost ranks of those who by their patriotic generosity are bringing nearer the day of victory.

And in acknowledging this further gift you have sent me I would add to my thanks to the subscribers of your fund an expression of my gratitude to your newspaper for the initiative and enterprise it has displayed to such valuable purpose.

The success of the campaign was enough to be able to purchase 2 aircraft for the RAF, they were unsurprisingly given the names "Rochdale And District I", and "Rochdale And District II".

Spitfire MkIIb, P8348 was Rochdale I, this aircraft flew with 52 Operational Training Unit in 1943 from RAF Debden.

Spitfire MkIIb, P8346 was Rochdale II, this aircraft flew with 303 (Polish Squadron) from RAF Northolt, it was shot down by flak near Lille on June 28th 1941, the pilot, Pilot Officer Josef Bondar was killed.