Castle Vale during World War 2

Description:Spitfire Island, Castle Vale Photograph by Tricia Crummay

During World War 2, Castle Vale, as it is now known, was home to the Spitfire and reminders of the links to this historic period are evident across the estate, with the Spitfire Island sculpture and the number of road names linked to the RAF.

Even before the outbreak of the war, aircraft makers could not produce all of the aeroplanes that the RAF needed so the government turned to the nation’s motor vehicle industry for help.

Huge new ‘shadow factories’ were built alongside those of the biggest car makers. Government money paid for them to be built, equipped and managed. Lord Austin, founder of the famous Birmingham car firm, was put in charge of the scheme.

The Castle Vale factory and airfield were erected under this scheme. It was the largest of these factories to be built.

Spitfires were built in Castle Vale between 1940 and 1945 and 37,000 test flights were made from the nearby airstrip. Half of all of the Supermarine Spitfires ever made were built in Castle Vale – a staggering 11,000 planes! Generally regarded as the best fighter aircraft of the Second World War, the Spitfire is widely credited for the Royal Air Force's victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

The Prime Minister of the time, Winston Churchill, even made a visit to the area to see the production of those magnificent aircraft.

The Spitfire remains one of the most familiar images of that era and the people of Castle Vale are very proud of the area’s links with such an iconic aircraft.