Preston’s Second World War Stories

My father Harry Kelly worked as an engineer during the Second World War, he also volunteered for the Home Guard. He was an aircraft inspector at Hawker Siddeley. The company was formed in 1935, and produced designs for the Hawker Hurricane and the Spitfire for the RAF. Both of these fighter planes played a key role in Britain’s front-line defences during the Battle of Britain.

My uncle James was killed in action, I remember seeing his medals. Dad later took over Moorfield Engineering, near Manchester. I remember the great big machines. He told me that they were used to make the tail wings for the Spitfires that would win the War. As a child, he taught me how to control the machine that bent the metal. A nearby golf club was bombed because they were trying to destroy the factory.