After Hours talk- A Spitfire Named Connie
06 July 2022
Join Air Marshal ‘Black’ Robertson as he talks about his Spitfire pilot father Robbie Robertson in this special membership event
5.15pm doors open, 6.00pm talk starts.
‘Robbie’ Robertson was a decorated Spitfire ace. In this talk his son, Air Marshal ‘Black’ Robertson, tells the poignant story of his father’s two wartime love affairs – with flying and with the schoolgirl he eventually marries. It’s based on his recent book, Á Spitfire Named Connie, the prequel to his well-received Fighters in the Blood.
We follow Robbie’s career through training during the Battle of Britain to 14 unbroken months on the front line. It’s here that he rubs shoulders with heroes of the Battle including Brian Kingcome and Bob Stanford Tuck. Robbie’s operational career comes to an end when he’s shot down in North Africa by one of the Luftwaffe’s foremost Experten, Erich Rudorffer.
What follows is a saga of medical transfers as surgeons try vainly to save his sight. Working from primary sources, the Air Marshal paints a vivid and authentic picture of life, love and loss in wartime. In many ways it was an age of innocence. A time when language was restrained, when emotions were understated – and when all too many relationships ended in tragedy. While Robbie survived, nearly every one of his closest friends was killed. It’s a story with the excitement of a novel, yet every word is true – an evening not to be missed.
The evening will also include some over the rope access to get up close and personal with a Mk1 Spitfire and also an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of our Mk XIX Spitfire
Tickets
Tickets for the talk are free for members, £10.00 for non members (includes access to sit in our Spitfire Mk XIX)
