Corn maze honors WWII Spitfire pilots

KENDAL, England, July 9 (UPI) -- An English farmer has created a cornfield maze that is also a tribute to the fighter pilots who helped win the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Graham Wadsworth of Kendal in Cumbria used Global Positioning technology to help him cut his elaborate 10-acre design, which shows a Spitfire hot on the tail of a German Messerschmitt 109, the BBC reported. The Maize Maze takes those who walk it on a 3 1/2 mile course.

"The Battle of Britain happened before I was born but I think it's important that it isn't forgotten and that young people get the chance to learn about it in a fun environment," the 40-year-old farmer said. "We get lots of young families and young people visiting the farm and we've got clues and quizzes for them to complete as they walk around the maze. If this sparks an interest in this period of our history, that would be great."

In 1940, British fighter pilots destroyed 1,900 German airplanes in six months, killing 2,900 crew members. They brought German bombing to a temporary halt at a cost of about 500 of their own lives.

Wadsworth said the maze will stay up until October, when he has to harvest the corn for winter cattle feed.