Bill agus an Spitfire
Bill Innes aims to fulfil a lifelong ambition to fly a Spitfire. Bill Innes gu bhith 90, le mòr-mhiann sgèith ann an Spitfire.
Bill Innes will be 90 this year and wants to fulfil a childhood dream and lifelong ambition to fly a Spitfire. Bill first saw a Spitfire flying overhead in Glencoe in 1940 when he was seven. Filled with hero worship for the daring pilots of the Battle of Britain, he 'dreamt of roaming the clouds in such a thrilling machine'.
Sadly his father died suddenly later that year. His mother, left to bring up two boys in an isolated cottage on a tiny pension, became mentally unwell and was admitted to hospital. Bill and his brother were fostered to a family in South Uist where Bill spent the rest of his childhood.
His fascination with flying continued throughout his life. As a student, he was selected to join the RAF Air Reserve Squadron and to his delight, when the time came for him to do National Service, he was accepted for pilot training in the RAF. Bill went on to achieve his dream of becoming a pilot, a job he loved and found exciting and fulfilling.
Bill became a pilot when travelling by air was a glamorous affair, and although he spent his working life flying different types of aircraft, he never managed to take to the skies in the iconic Spitfire, something he now intends to correct.
Cha robh Bill Innes ach seachd bliadhna a dh’aois nuair a chunnaic e Spitfire an toiseach. Bha e a’ fuireach ann an Gleann Comhainn aig an à m, ann an 1940, agus air a bheò-ghlacadh le nà idheachdan a’ chogaidh, gu h-à raidh, sgeulachdan mu na gaisgich a bha a’ sabaid anns an à dhar an aghaidh an nà mhaid, pìleatan na Spitfires agus na Hurricanes.
Bha Bill glan air a dhòigh an Spitfire fhaicinn a’ sgèith tron a’ ghleann, is thòisich e a’ dèanamh dealbh na inntinn mu cho mìorbhaileach ’s a bhiodh e nam faigheadh e fhèin cothrom a bhith shuas anns na neòil ann am plèana cho eireachdail.
Dhà neo trì mhìosan an dèidh dha Bill an Spitfire fhaicinn, dh’eug athair agus dh’atharraich a bheatha gu tur. Bha a mhà thair air a fà gail leatha fhèin le dithis bhalach òga ann an à ite iomallach le glè bheag de dh’airgead, agus bhris a slà inte. Chaidh a toirt gu ospadal - asylum - agus chaidh Bill agus a bhrà thair a dh’fhuireach còmhla ri teaghlach ann an Uibhist far an do dh’èirich iad suas.
Lean an ùidh a bh’ aig Bill ann am plèanaichean fad a bheatha. Na oileanach, fhuair e à ite anns an “Air Reserve Squadron” aig Feachd Rìoghail an t-Adhair, agus an uair sin, cothrom trèanadh na phìleat le Feachd Rìoghail an t-Adhair airson dà bhliadhna - seo an t-seirbheis nà iseanta a bh’ aig fireannaich òga ri dhèanamh aig an à m. Fhuair e an uair sin an obair a bha e a’ miannachadh, agus chuir e seachad a bheatha-obrach na phìleat, dreuchd a chòrd ris gu mòr.
Chan e a-mhà in gum biodh Bill aig stiùir phlèana na obair là itheil, bhiodh e cuideachd a’ falbh le iomadh seòrsa plèana beag mar chur-seachad, ach cha d’ fhuair e a-riamh na bha san rùn bho là ithean òige - ’s e sin a dhol suas dha na speuran ann an Spitfire.
In Gaelic with English subtitles
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Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Interviewed Guest | Bill Innes |
Interviewed Guest | Stuart Innes |
Interviewed Guest | Jeremy Britcher |
Producer | Christine Morrison |
Director | Christine Morrison |
Editor | Paul Duke |
Executive Producer | Calum McConnell |
Production Company | Corcadal Productions |
Broadcasts
- Christmas Day 2023 20:30
- Thu 28 Dec 2023 20:30
- Sun 31 Dec 2023 20:00
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- Mon 9 Sep 2024 20:30
- Fri 13 Sep 2024 20:30