The Battle of Britain:
A beginner's guide
Seeing what's left
See Time Fly: The Centenary of Aviation museum trail
www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/trlout_gfx_en/TRA17625.html
Article by James
Kightly on the 24 Hour Museum site that gives a quick rundown of all the
places in the UK where you can see vintage aircraft, including those flown
during the Battle of Britain.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight 1957-2007
www.bbmf.co.uk/index.html
RAF Coningsby is located
south-east of Coningsby village in Lincolnshire, just off the A153.
The
unit was formed at Biggin Hill as the Historic Aircraft Flight on 11
July 1957. Today it comprises five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster,
a Dakota and the last two operational Chipmunks in the RAF. It is based
at RAF Coningsby, where there is also a BBMF visitors' centre. The website
has information on all the aircraft and details of when displays are
held.
The Shuttleworth Collection
Old Warden Park
Nr Biggleswade SG18 9EP
Tel: 01767 626 228
Fax: 01767 627 053
E-mail: collection@shuttleworth.org
Website: www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth_home.asp
The collection occupies an old-fashioned all-grass aerodrome with eight
hangars, which contain an aeroplane engineering workshop, a garage and
coachroom, and a collection of aircraft including a 1942 Supermarine
Spitfire VC, all of which are in working condition and take part in displays.
Battle of Britain Exhibition, Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Cambridgeshire CB2 4QR
Tel: 01223 835 000
Fax: 01223 837 267
E-mail: duxford@iwm.org.uk, duxfordtickets@iwm.org.uk (ticket
enquiries)
Website: www.iwm.org.uk/duxford/batt_ex.htm
This
permanent exhibition at Duxford – part of the Imperial War
Museum – looks at the people and machines involved in the Battle
of Britain and the Blitz of 1940–41. It also explores Duxford's
past, especially its history as a fighter airfield (Hangar 4, in which
the exhibition is presented, was actually used in the battle), and the
air defence of Britain. A Spitfire and Hurricane are displayed alongside
the mementoes and recollections of the brave 'Few' who flew them.
RAF Museum, London
Royal Air Force Museum
Grahame Park Way
London, NW9 5LL
Tel: 020 8205 2266 (general information)
E-mail: hendon@rafmuseum.org
Website:www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/index.cfm
From a total collection of
well over 200 aircraft, some 80 full-size aircraft from all over the world
are displayed under cover at a newly revamped museum on the site of the
original London Aerodrome. These include a Spitfire and a Lancaster Bomber.
Admission
free.
RAF Museum, Cosford
Shifnal
Shropshire TF11 8UP
Tel: 01902 376 200 (general enquiries)
E-mail: cosford@rafmuseum.org
Website: www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/aboutus/index.cfm
The museum houses
one of the largest aviation collections in the UK. Over 70 historic aircraft
are displayed in three wartime hangars on an active airfield. The collection
spans nearly 80 years of aviation history, and includes a Spitfire and
a Hurricane.
Admission free
Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum
The Airfield
Manston Road
Ramsgate
Kent CT12 5DF
Tel: 01843 821 940
Website: www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/f-k/hurrispitmemorial.htm
The Memorial at RAF Manston in Ramsgate,
Kent is dedicated to the pilots and aircrew who gave so much to preserve
freedom in the dark days of World War II. The main building contains a
Spitfire MK XVI (LF) and a Hurricane IIc, and there is also an exhibition
of World War II memorabilia.
Kent Battle of Britain Museum
Aerodrome Road
Hawkinge
Nr Folkestone
Kent CT18 7AG
Tel: 01303 893 140
Website: www.kbobm.org
This museum boasts that it has the 'most important
collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country: aircraft,
vehicles, weapons, flying equipment, prints, relics from over 600 crashed
aircraft'.
Capel-le-Ferne Memorial
New Dover Road
Capel-le-Ferne
Folkestone
Kent
Tel: 01303 249 292 (during open hours)
01303 276 697 (after hours)
Website: www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/
museum_gfx_en/AM17635.html
This memorial to those who flew
and those who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain stands on the White
Cliffs between Dover and Folkestone. Called 'Hellfire Corner' by RAF pilots,
this is where many dogfights took place. The memorial comprises a stone
statue of a pilot gazing out across the Channel, seated on a sandstone
propeller boss on which are carved all the crests of the squadrons that
participated in the battle. This issited at the centre of three propellers
cut into the chalk cliff, each 38 metres long. The surrounding grassed
area features a series of raised banks that give the impression of a pilot's
leather flying helmet and earphones. Close by are two circular concrete
areas. On one sits a full-scale model of a Hawker Hurricane in the markings
of 56 Squadron. It is planned that a model of a Spitfire in the markings
of 72 Squadron will occupy the remaining area. A wall commemorating the
battle, designed and constructed in coloured bricks by students of South
Kent College, stands by the car park.
The memorial can be approached
from either Dover or Folkestone via the B2011, and is less than 20 minutes
away from the Spitfire & Hurricane
Memorial (see above).
