75 years to the day since the most famous day of fighting between British and German air forces in the Second World War, a blue plaque to Trafford’s Ford motor company has been unveiled.
September 15 is known as Battle of Britain Day, when the German Air Force launched its largest and most sustained bombing campaign over British soil.
The Battle of Britain itself took place between July and October 1945, with thousands of explosive and destructive raids by Hitler’s Luftwaffe on factories, road, and strategic targets.
The people who built the engines, the aircraft and the crews that flew them all made a major contribution to the allied war effort.
Four 264 Squadron Defiants – by B.J. Daventry, Royal Air Force official photographer
Ford, who were based in Trafford Park, manufactured 34,000 Merlin engines for use in the Spitfire fighters and Lancaster bombers.
It’s contribution to the war effort is undoubted, as it employed over 17,000 people during World War Two, of which 7,000 were women.
But it has never before been decorated in this way.
The Mayor of Trafford, John Holden, unveiled the plaque alongside the leader of Trafford council Sean Anstee at Barton Square in the Trafford Centre shopping mall.
Cllr Anstee said the significance of this blue plaque’s location was enormous: “It is amazing to be able to officially recognise the huge contribution the thousands of men and women who worked at the Ford Motor factory played in our war efforts.
“I can’t think of a more fitting tribute than for the Council to be able to erect this. I would like to extend my personal thanks to staff at intu Trafford Centre for agreeing to have the blue plaque sited there.”
