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On the 70th anniversary of beginning of World War II, two appreciations of a legendary aircraft that helped win the war for the Allies: the Spitfire.

a 2009 series of Royal Mail postage stamps commemorating British Design Classics

And from composer Sir William Walton, the "Spitfire Prelude and Fugue," a concert work adapted from his score to the movie "The First of the Few." This YouTube clip mates the music with images from the war:

John Birge has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.


John Birge

On the 70th anniversary of beginning of World War II, two appreciations of a legendary aircraft that helped win the war for the Allies: the Spitfire. From a 2009 series of Royal Mail postage stamps commemorating British Design Classics, comes this beauty: And from composer Sir William Walton, the “Spitfire Prelude and Fugue,” a concert […]


Spitfire: Two Stamps of Approval

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