We hung a Spitfire model scale 1:4 high above the collection. It's not just a Spitfire. Recently, we remembered the liberation of the southwest of The Netherlands and the Battle of The Schelde 80 years ago. Brian Lane flew this particular Spitfire Mk2 during The Battle of Britain. Later, in 1942, he was shot down just 7 miles north of my birthplace, Domburg, by a German FW190. Brian Lane was married to Eileen Ellison, one of the best prewar female racing drivers, who competed in a Bugatti T37 and a Lagonda M45, the same type which is in our collection. On the 9th of December, 82 years ago, Brian took off for what would become his final “rhubarb” mission, flying with the son of KLM founder Plesman as his wingman. Low on the deck, they entered enemy territory and attacked railways at Moerdijk and Bergen op Zoom. But on the way back, Focke Wulf FW190s from the nearby Woensdrecht airbase intercepted the Spitfire flight, and in the fight which followed, Brian Lane was shot down. Plesman and two others returned safely to England. With the links to prewar motor racing and the battle in the air over Zeeland over 80 years ago, it seemed appropriate to choose Brians livery on the model that looks down on some cars which raced on Brooklands in the same period his wife Eileen raced there. Let’s never forget these brave young guys.
