Flog It show at RNAS Yeovilton

FLOG IT, the BBC antique valuation programme, spent two successful days last week filming at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton and the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

The BBC’s first port of call was a visit on the Air Station to film Royal Naval efforts in support of defence to the Front Line.

They filmed at 815 Naval Air Squadron where Lynx Mark 8 provides operational support to deployments. Air Traffic Control and the Royal Naval Historic Flight were among other departments taking part in providing insert film to be shown across five programmes later this year.

PHOTOS: Flog It presenter Paul Martin at RNAS Yeovilton, right, and he is seen filming with Lt Cdr Dan Inge, above, in air traffic control.

Day two of filming saw presenter Paul Martin and the people of Somerset laden with their hidden treasures for valuation in the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

The Commanding Officer at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Commodore Jock Alexander, shared a piece of Naval history with the presenter.

A painting, by artist Philip West, depicts three crew in a Swordfish fighting off a German attack at Brest in February 1942.

The Commodore said: ''The Swordfish was in a Squadron of six and the rear of this painting has the signatures of World War Two Swordfish crew including two of the survivors of this particular Battle.

''Just to put into perspective their bravery, each Flog It programme is about 45 minutes in length and in less time than this an aircrew would have taken off from a ship in one of these magnificent aircraft and lost their lives.”

Paul said: “A Philip West painting of a Lancaster had reached £15,000 but this picture is potentially more valuable as it is signed by battle survivors on the back which makes it so much more special.''

The painting will not be going to auction as it belongs to the Royal Naval Historic Flight and is part of Navy Heritage. It is now hanging safely back on the wall in the Commodore's office.

The Military Wives Choir for Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton created a wonderful atmosphere in the Concorde Hangar during the filming of Flog It in the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

They performed two songs including Where Ever You Are - the 2011 Christmas Number One single.

This was a very welcome distraction for those in the five-hour queue waiting to discover if they had hit the jackpot with their treasures.

PHOTO: Flog It presenter Paul Martin, above, with Commodore Jock Alexander with a painting, by artist Philip West, depicts three crew in a Swordfish fighting off a German attack at Brest in February 1942.

PHOTO: RNAS Yeovilton's Military Wives Choir.

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