Rescued Spitfires may give boost to BAE staff battling for work

Prime Minister David Cameron secured a deal allowing the iconic fighters to be returned to the UK while becoming the first Western leader to meet Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi last week.

He called for an end to European sanctions on Burma following her election to parliament, paving the way for the repatriation of the “lost squadron”.

Mr Cameron intervened after the fate of the aircraft was brought to his attention at the behest of North Lincolnshire farmer David Cundall, who has spent 16 years and £130,000 trying to find and excavate the site.

Now Mr Cundall and others close to the deal are hoping the Mk XIV Spitfires could be sent for restoration and renovation to the BAE Systems plant at Brough, East Yorkshire, where about 750 workers face the axe. “They are brand new Spitfires and have never been flown before apart from test flights,” said Mr Cundall, 62. “If they could be used to maintain jobs at Brough it would be a good idea but it’s out of my hands.”

He is being supported by Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy, who said: “At this stage it’s quite early to say but it’s certainly something that merits further investigation. It’s a project that has big potential for BAE to play a part in.”

The factory has a heritage team that recently restored Swordfish and Firefly aircraft.

Staff union convenor Ian Gent said: “That’s most definitely within the capabilities of people we have and it would bring a lot of kudos to the site. I think we would have people absolutely chomping at the bit.”