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Eynon Jenkins (left) and friend

Eynon Jenkins of Glanamman was one of the men responsible for keeping Britains Spitfires flying during the Second World War. He was based at Eshott between 1941 and 1943, where he worked as a fitter in the Royal Air Force.

The Supermarine Spitfires and the Hawker Hurricanes were the daytime fighter planes that fought against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. These two aircraft caused such heavy losses in terms of enemy aircraft, that the Luftwaffe changed the bulk of their attacks to night time. Other British aircraft, more suited to night time operations due to their primitive on-board radar system, were also used and together, they eventually caused the German airborne attacks to peter out.

British pilots were under enormous pressure during the early days of the war, but the urgency of repairing and keeping the fighter planes airborne was in the domain of men just like Eynon Jenkins, without whom, the Battle of Britain could not have been won.

It is not absolutely certain which type of aircraft is shown in the photograph above and although Eynon worked with Spitfires, the aircraft shown may in fact be a Hurricane.