More than 80 years after GKN Aerospace made parts for Spitfire planes in East Cowes, the firm is playing a key part in an Isle of Wight-based project to restore a famed World War Two aircraft, piloted by one of the men immortalised in the The Great Escape.

GKN apprentices will work on an historic plane, due to return to flight in 2024, after its restoration at Sandown Airport.

It has also donated £500,000, which will fund work on the fuselage and wing spars, as well as leading edges and the wing ribs.

In 2018, Spitfire wreckage was found in a peat bog near Surnadal, Norway.

Historic and famous Spitfire plane at centre of Isle of Wight restoration

Isle of Wight County Press: Spitfires in 1942. Photo by Tomlinson family.Spitfires in 1942. Photo by Tomlinson family.

Brought back to the UK, by Spitfire AA810 Restoration Ltd, and nicknamed 'Sandy's Spitfire' after its final pilot, the AA810 flew as an unarmed long-range photographic and reconnaissance aircraft.

It was shot down - and at the controls was engineer Alastair ‘Sandy’ Gunn, who survived the crash but was subsequently killed in 1944.

In his memory, the plane will be used by the Sandy Gunn Aerospace Careers Programme, to promote engineering careers and inspire future generations into the aerospace industry.

'Sandy's Spitfire' has the highest operational hours of any surviving Mk1 Spitfire and is the earliest surviving unarmed military reconnaissance aircraft in existence.

Isle of Wight County Press: Pilot 'Sandy' Gunn, whose story was among those in The Great Escape.Pilot 'Sandy' Gunn, whose story was among those in The Great Escape.

Isle of Wight County Press: GKN Spitfire production line.GKN Spitfire production line.

When complete, it will be based in Bedford, as part of the Shuttleworth Collection and will fly to Norway as well as taking part in air shows in New Zealand and the USA.

In the 1930s and 1940s, GKN made made Spitfire parts on the Island, as well as planes at its production line base in Telford, Shropshire.

Tony Hoskins and Dr Michael Smith, co-directors of Spitfire Restoration Ltd and co-trustees of the Sandy Gunn Aerospace Careers Programme Charity, said: "Given their shared history, GKN Aerospace is the ideal partner in this iconic project and educational programme which, together, revives the past and inspires the future.

"We are delighted to welcome them to this exciting collaboration that we firmly believe will be extremely beneficial all round – from the young people concerned, to the UK aerospace industry, economy and wider society."