Musician’s tribute to The Star of Stone

A musician from Stone has recorded a song about the town’s purchase of a Spitfire during the Second World War.

Paul Rickett – who used to be in the RAF – was inspired by the amazing wartime story to write a song about it.

The Star of Stone was a Supermarine Spitfire mark vb, so named after the people of Stone raised £5,000 in 1941 for its production. Like other towns and cities at the time whose residents sponsored an aircraft, the name of the town was carried on its side. The “Star”, FN(for Norway) BL637, saw action with 331 Squadron at RAF North Weald, near to the Essex town of Epping.

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Sadly, on June 19th 1942 The Star Of Stone failed to return from a fighter sweep over France. Her pilot, Norwegian LT Karl Theodor Jacobsen, was declared missing in action, presumed killed. His partner that day, Fnr Jens Einar Müller, was also shot down but survived only to be taken as a Prisoner of War. He was one of the few to escape. Fifty of his comrades were executed – as shown in the film The Great Escape.

In 1996, artist Charles O’Neill re-created the Star of Stone flying over the White Cliffs of Dover, with 500 prints being made available – one print can be found in the aptly name Star pub in Stone.

Paul said: “When I moved to Stone 14 years ago I went to the Star pub for a beer and was fascinated on discovering the Star of Stone picture and to find out more about its story. Having had granddads that fought in the Second World War (RAF and Royal Artillery) and being a former RAF man myself, I’ve always had an interest in Second World War history.

“Two years ago I got the Star of Stone picture for Christmas and there it was on the wall begging for its story to be told while I was composing some music recently!”

Here’s Paul’s song about The Star of Stone…