UK Aviation Museum News – Page 57

Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain at IWM Duxford

A new exhibition telling stories of the people who served

Opens to the public on Friday 21 August

Marking the 75th Anniversary, Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain is a new exhibition which presents the personal experiences and mementoes of seven people who served at RAF Duxford, a pivotal fighter station during the Battle of Britain.

The people represented in the exhibition are David Whitley (Pilot Officer, 264 Squadron), Maria Blewitt (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force), Gordon Sinclair (310 Squadron), Guy Mayfield (Chaplain at RAF Duxford), James Coward (19 Squadron), ‘Woody’ Woodhall (RAF Duxford Station Commander) and Peter Howard-Williams (19 Squadron).*

The exhibition was officially opened today by Chas and Liz Bazeley, cousins of Maria Blewitt and Gordon Sinclair’s son, Alan.

Maria Blewitt was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force at Duxford. Her letter home to her mother, which features in the exhibition, was written by Maria on 11 September 1940, the day that the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, gave a speech stating:

“‘…a heavy full-scale invasion of this Island is being prepared…it may be launched now… Therefore we must regard the next week or so as a very important period in our history.’

Maria’s letter shows how real and frightening was the threat of imminent invasion. In it, she says: “I have just been listening to Winston. Brilliant, inspiring but just a tiddly bit frightening. He seems quite sure invasion will come within the next week or so. If not I shall be home for 48 hrs on 17th…”

Gordon Sinclair joined 19 Squadron at RAF Duxford on 27 November 1937. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 25 June 1940 and in late June became ‘A’ Flight Commander of 310 (Czech) Squadron, which became operational on 17 August. Gordon Sinclair was awarded the Czech Military Cross on 24 December 1940.

The exhibition also contains transcriptions from the diary of Guy Mayfield, Duxford’s Chaplain during the Battle of Britain. It was to him that pilots would turn when they were feeling the immense pressures of the battle. One diary entry reads:

“19 Squadron were night flying after dinner… [Pilot Officer Horace Trenchard] crashed while we were there…he had crashed at Whittlesford…he was killed at once. Peter appeared with a beer and questions following on Trenchard’s death. It was a relief to be able to talk realistically to him, not about Trenchard, but about the things which we keep concealed for the most part beneath the surface. What happens when you die? Is it wrong to be frightened of dying? How should you live if you are twenty and will be dead by the end of the summer?”

James Coward’s Pilot’s Flying Log Book, in which he recorded every flight he made with beautiful drawings, also features in the exhibition, turned to the page upon which he has drawn an illustration of the flight on which he was shot down and wounded.

Many of these objects on display in the exhibition have not been previously seen by the public.

Alan Sinclair said: “It is wonderful that these personal items are on display. It seems slightly ironic that the last time I saw it [Gordon Sinclair’s flying suit] he was sitting on a lawnmower wearing it.”

Chas Bazeley said: “It is wonderful to see what Maria was involved in during the war and it’s wonderful to know that she has been chosen as the only woman amongst all those handsome chaps. She would be delighted.”

RAF Duxford was pivotal in the Battle of Britain. The first Spitfires flew from Duxford. Douglas Bader was based at RAF Duxford and it was the home of the controversial ‘Big Wing’ flying tactic. It is through the very different personal stories of the men and woman featured in the new Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain exhibition that we discover what it was like to work and serve at an RAF Fighter Station in the relentlessly demanding days of the Battle of Britain.

Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain is a contemplative exhibition in which visitors can learn about people who were instrumental at RAF Duxford, before they visit the Battle of Britain Exhibition to view the aircraft that fought the battle from the skies.

Entry is included in general admission to IWM Duxford.

www.iwm.org.uk

Eastbourne Gears Up for Final Vulcan Display

Eastbourne gears up for its final Vulcan display next week as the world’s only flying Vulcan bomber makes its last trip to Airbourne, the town’s four day free seafront airshow from Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 August.

Thousands will bid a fond farewell to the cold war jet at 2.32pm on Saturday 15 August which retires at the end of the season, before welcoming the world’s only flying Bristol Blenheim, in its first ever free display.

Along with Eastbourne’s first ever Norwegian MiG-15 jet fighter display, the Belgian NH90 helicopter, Typhoon, Chinook and the RAF Red Arrows, Airbourne crowds will be in for a treat.

Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Enterprise, Cllr Margaret Bannister said “This is an astounding year for historic jets and international teams. The Vulcan is adored by many and Airbourne is one of just a handful of opportunities left to ever see this aircraft in the sky.”

The Blenheim joins an impressive historic line up which also features a Norwegian Vampire duo, Kittyhawk, Jet Provost, Bulldog, Spitfire, Mustang and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Local Heroes to Close Day One

Local men Flt Lt Ben Polwin and Flt Lt Toby Keeley, will be returning to home ground after their Hawk duo display on Thursday, as both pilots hail from Sussex. Former Park College student Toby, began his flying career at Hailsham Air Training Corps and has since flown the Tucano, Hawk and Tornado GR4.

Known under the call signs of Ninja 1 and Ninja 2, Ben and Toby will close the show on Thursday with their brand new Hawk duo display and will be meeting fans on the ground during the show.

The Blades Celebrate 10 Years

Celebrating 10 years in the sky, former Red Arrows pilots The Blades, return with a very special display and a chance to win a flight with the team in the Airbourne £1 lottery, with all proceeds supporting the future of Airbourne.

French team Patrouille Reva also bring a highly technical display in their purpose built aerobatic aircraft, along with a packed line-up featuring the Tutor, Royal Navy Sea King, Rv8tors, Breitling Wingwalkers and The Tigers parachute team.

Super Saturday

The Airbourne Live stage on the beach returns thanks to TJ’s Nightclub with live music from 11am to 7.30pm each day, including talent show stars De’Vide of BBC1’s The Voice UK on Friday. The party continues on Super Saturday, a 12-hour extravaganza of flying and entertainment, in a Heart hosted evening presented by Tom, Nicola and Jack from Heart Breakfast. Entry is free, however numbers are limited, so music fans are advised to arrive early.

Featuring dazzling twilight pyro-aerobatics from brand new flying duo AeroSPARX, chart topping band Scouting for Girls headline on stage at 9.15pm, before explosive Saturday night fireworks close the day’s events at 10pm, sponsored by Ansvar Insurance and Frontier Fireworks.

On the Ground

The four day show also features plenty of fun on the ground, including an RAF, Navy and Army exhibition on the Western Lawns with Harrier, Chinook and Gazelle cockpits to climb aboard, children’s entertainment areas and Transformers star car Autobot Bumblebee makes an appearance (Sat & Sun only).

Helicopter pleasure flights offer spectacular views from Beachy Head and at the Bandstand, evening concerts include Big Band Night on Thursday and the legendary pop-punk princess Toyah, on Friday. BBC South East Today also broadcast live from the show from 6.30pm on Friday, as their Festival Friday tour hits town.

Give a Quid

Entry is free, with flying displays part funded by public donations each year, including generous support from Sussex residents David Dickens, Brian Bunce and Jayne Howard. This year collections will be organised by the Rotary Clubs of Sovereign Harbour and Hailsham, with 30% of the proceeds passed onto local charities Kent, Sussex & Surrey Air Ambulance, Riding for the Disabled and Friends of Eastbourne Hospital.

More ways to support Airbourne include donating online, buying an Airbourne Lottery ticket or buying a Souvenir Programme featuring daily updated flying times and money off vouchers for just £4, available from the Tourist Information Centre, Seafront Office, selected newsagents and from programme sellers around town.

Watch, Listen & Tweet

Airbourne is open from 10am each day, with Red Arrows displays at 4pm on Friday, and 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Bandstand offers exclusive seating in the centre of the display line at £12 per adult, and Park and View areas at Beachy Head cost £5 per day for a birds-eye view of the displays.

Fans can post their airshow selfie to the Tweetwall giant screen on the beach using #eastbourneselfie, tune into Radio Airbourne 87.7FM, supported by Specsavers, for live commentary and updates, or watch online for live coverage by Planes TV at VisitEastbourne.com/AirbourneTV.

Parking

Parking is available at Five Acre Field in Lottbridge Drove costing £4 per car with a bus service running to and from the pier. Additional parking is also available to the west of town at St Andrew’s School field, with a bus to Airbourne (Sat & Sun only), and donations to Eastbourne Sovereign Rotary Club. Or beat the traffic and come by bike, using the free cycle park in Howard Square.

For more information visit www.eastbourneairshow.com or telephone 01323 415415.

IWMs newly-painted North American B-25J Mitchell aircraft is revealed

Mitchell IWM Duxford

Today (Thursday 6 August) IWM’s newly-repainted North American B-25J Mitchell was revealed in its new paint scheme for the first time.

The aircraft now represents North American B-25J Mitchell 43-4064, which served with the 488th Bomb Squadron of the 340th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force, United States Army Air Forces, in the latter stages of the Second World War.

The 340th Bomb Group was the inspiration for the Bomb Group represented in American author Joseph Heller’s satirical novel Catch 22. Heller served as a bombardier in the 488th Bomb Squadron. Crews were not allocated a specific aircraft in the 340th Bomb Group and personnel were interchanged between crews and aircraft. As a result, Joseph Heller flew in almost all of the aircraft operated by the 340th Bomb Group.

Missions carried out by Heller and his fellow crew members in B-25J Mitchell 43-4064 formed the inspiration for some of the events in Heller’s classic novel Catch 22.

North American B-25J Mitchell 43-4064 can be seen at IWM Duxford in the Conservation in Action hangar and will be displayed in the newly-transformed American Air Museum, at IWM Duxford, when it reopens in spring 2016.

Chris Knapp, Section Head, Industrial and Large Object Conservation, IWM Duxford, said: “The Conservation Team carried out a structural survey and then a team of three Conservation staff repainted the aircraft within a six week period. I’m really pleased with the work they have done. The only element of the repainting that we didn’t undertake in-house was the nose art as we don’t have a sign writer on our staff. We have carried out painstaking research to ensure that the aircraft matches the original 43-4064. All lines and colour changes are taken from original photographs of the aircraft during the Second World War.”

www.iwm.org.uk

Take a Seat in Our Spitfire

RAF Museum Spitfire

Dreams come true at the RAF Museum this August as we unveil our new sit-in ‘Spitfire Experience’.

For the first time ever, visitors can now climb inside our Mk XVI Spitfire, take the pilot’s seat, learn about the Aircraft and feel the thrill of sitting in one of the most iconic cockpits

Tickets: £4 per person (BoB 75th offer limited to end of September)

Location: Historic Hangars, RAF Museum London

September is the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and to mark this occasion, we are offering a special price of £4 per person to access to Spitfire MK16 Cockpit.

All tickets for the Spitfire Experience contribute towards the ‘Historic Hendon Appeal’.

The RAF Museum receives funding from the MoD that allows the Museum to open its doors to visitors. In order to conserve our collection and improve the Museum we rely on the museum’s supporters – the Museum needs your help. 2018 will mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF and we are looking to transform the Museum through 4 new exhibitions, new learning programmes and better facilities for visitors.

We have already completed part of this project through the new First World War in the Air exhibition and have raised over £12milion towards future works (out of £23milion).

All donations made through the ‘Spitfire Experience’ will support the ‘Historic Hendon’ phase of the project which will tell the story of the museum’s former life as an airfield, it was on the airfield where the museum now stands that Spitfires departed for the Battle of Britain and Winston Churchill first learnt to fly. Donations will also help to ensure that the museum is enjoyed by the local community for generations to come.

www.rafmuseum.org

Monospar Update August 2015

Newark Monospar project

Work is now progressing well on applying fabric to the wing of the Monospar at Newark Air Museum.

This work is now taking place alongside the aircraft in Hangar 1 at the museum, where it is attracting a lot of attention and interest from those people visiting the museum from around the world. Two new recruits have been added to the restoration team, who are both now learning the ‘art’ of fabric application and rib-stitching.

The complex wing folding arrangements can be seen on the re-covered wings that have also recently been refitted to the fuselage.

The General Aircraft Monospar at Newark Air Museum is the only Monospar preserved in the United Kingdom. The aircraft type was designed by H. J. Stieger and VH-UTH was built at Croydon, Surrey in 1935. For over 20 years the aircraft operated as VH-UTH in Australia with both New England Airways (later Airlines of Australia) and Butler Air Transport. On 11th July 1936 whilst carrying the former Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes the aircraft crash landed, fortunately the occupants and the aircraft survived.

On 22nd August 1961 VH-UTH piloted by Dr J Morris and B J Harrison took-off from Darwin, Australia on a 12,000 mile journey through 22 countries to Lympne airfield, England. The aircraft and crew survived monsoon, war, revolt and prison, the story of the flight was the subject of a book Two Men in a Flying Machine, written by Dr Morris.

After flying on to Biggin Hill, VH-UTH later spent a number of years at Panshangar, Herts. The aircraft was then bought by the Tiger Club and it was moved to Croydon. By 1967 VH-UTH was in open storage at Booker, and it was falling into bad repair. The aircraft was first moved to Newark and later in 1972 to the museum’s Winthorpe Airfield site.

A sad epitaph to the Monospar’s history was the death of pilot and author Dr J. Morris in a flying accident in the spring of 1981.

The restoration programme for VH-UTH commenced during the summer 1995, when its wings were taken to Innsworth, allowing work to be undertaken by members of the Cotswold Aircraft Restoration Group.

Since its return to Newark the restoration work has progressed steadily, with the work being undertaken without any working drawings or airframe plans. Work will soon commence on the ‘top hat’ longerons on the Monospar fuselage. Once this has been undertaken the fuselage fabric will also be applied.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Cosford Museum Apprentice jets off for stateside scholarship

Cosford Scholar

An Apprentice at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford has been awarded a scholarship with the Flying Scholarship for Disabled People (FSDP).

The 2015 scholars were officially announced at a special ceremony held at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) earlier this month. The successful applicants were presented with their scholarship certificates by FSDP patron HRH Prince Faisal of Jordon and Honorary Air Commodore Sir Stephen Dalton. Each scholar also received a Pooleys Private Pilot Licence starter kit containing all the essentials needed for their new venture, presented to them by Sebastian Pooley, Managing Director at Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd.

Museum Apprentice Bethany Colburn, aged 21 from Albrighton, was selected from a panel of judges as their top scholar and will have the life changing opportunity of spending five weeks at the American Aviation Academy in San Diego, California. Bethany will be jetting off in September and will enjoy thirty five flying hours and associated ground schools whilst in America and will be partnered with a fellow FSDP scholar.

Bethany, who was born with mild cerebral palsy which affects her mobility, went through a tough recruitment process to win her spot in this year’s selection. Following an initial application, each applicant was assessed by a team of experienced adjudicators consisting of FSDP Trustees and supporters at a pre selection board meeting. The top twenty four candidates then went forward to the selection stage at RAF Cranwell in a four day process, which included; meeting with Trustees and former FSDP scholars, now acting as mentors, before being interviewed and undergoing a medical assessment to ensure they are fit enough to fly.

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP), is a charity that provides a ‘once in a lifetime’ challenge for disabled people to help them realise their abilities through the medium of learning to fly. By the end of the training programme, some scholars are flying solo and many go on to achieve their Private Pilot’s Licence. Students who impress their Chief Flying Instructor during a general handling flying test and who reach an acceptable standard of competence, compatible with the nature of their disability, are awarded the FSDP Wings.

The FSDP is in memory of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader KBE DSO and Bar DFC and Bar DL who, after losing both his legs in a flying accident, went on to achieve fame in World War Two as a fighter pilot. Following his death in 1982, organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo introduced Flying Scholarships for Disabled People to continue Bader’s indomitable spirit. Since then, nearly 400 disabled people have been awarded scholarships.

RAF Museum Apprentice, Bethany Colburn said:

“Despite having cerebral palsy, while in California my aim is to fly solo using the rudder pedals! I want to make my sponsors proud and show everyone, able bodied and disabled alike; that despite having limitations anyone can adapt and overcome given the right opportunities and belief. Thanks to FSDP having that belief in me, I am now on the most incredible life changing journey; that I hope will lead to more opportunities to progress my career in engineering and aviation. The scholarship has given me the boost, to continue the battle against perceptions and not give up the fight. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the team at the RAF Museum. The Apprentice Scheme has been a wonderful learning experience which has provided me with an excellent foundation for the future.”

RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton said:

“The RAF Museum’s apprentice scheme was introduced over ten years ago with a vision of preserving heritage aviation skills. Since then, the scheme and its participants have gone from strength to strength; winning awards and accolades and our conservation centre is now listed as one of the country’s Top 100 Apprentice Employers in the UK. We are extremely proud of Bethany for gaining her flying scholarship and happy to have contributed to her success story.”

Now at the end of her four year Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacture and having achieved her Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma in Fabrication – Sheet Metalworking; Bethany hopes that the skills and experience she has gained at the RAF Museum, combined with the flying scholarship are the perfect platforms into a long and successful career in aviation engineering.

For more information about the RAF Museum Cosford, visit www.rafmuseum.org/cosford or call 01902 376200.

The Big Push

RAF Museum

The First World War in the Air exhibition at the RAF Museum has been shortlisted for the National Lottery Awards 2015, which is fantastic news for the Museumand fans of aviation.

There is a five-week public vote period which ends midnight 29th July.

The Museum will compete against six other projects and voting is conducted by phone and online.

Please support the Museum by voting online for free at http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/project/first-world-war-air or by calling 0844 836 9670 (calls cost 5p max, plus network charges may apply)

*Each person can vote only once.

Museum to be official charity for 2016 Farnborough International Airshow

Farnborough International Ltd, organisers of the Farnborough International Airshow, today confirmed that the RAF Museum Centenary Campaign has been selected as the lead charity partner for the 2016 show taking place from 11-17 July. In the lead up to the RAF Centenary in 2018, the Museum, located at Hendon, will be implementing a major capital project and exhibition development that will improve access and focus on telling the stories of the RAF and its people to engage a wider audience, locally, nationally and globally.

Speaking about the decision, FIL Chief Executive, Shaun Ormrod, said, “We are delighted to support the RAF Museum in its fundraising efforts for its centenary campaign. The 100 year anniversary marks a milestones event in the formation of the first truly independent air force and has become one of the most respected air forces in the world. We anticipate that FIA18 will see a strong RAF presence.”

Ormrod further added “Like Farnborough, Hendon has strong historical aviation connections and as the former home to the airshow, it seems appropriate that we support the Museum. The Farnborough International Airshow, has a huge audience on a corporate level as well as during the public weekend and as such the perfect location to raise awareness of this important museum and historic occasion.”

Maggie Appleton, Chief Executive of the RAF Museum also added; “It’s an honour for the Museum to be appointed as lead charity partner at FIA16. As the airshow engages both industry and the general public, it allows us a unique opportunity to share our ambitions for the museum.”

As well as a presence at the show itself, FIA will support the centenary campaign in the 12 month lead-up to the show including promoting the charity in FIA sales and marketing initiatives and the opportunity to engage aerospace businesses at key industry functions.

www.rafmuseum.org

RAF Museum Launches Battle of Britain Blog for #BoB75

John Bidsee

For the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force Museum is now publishing a daily blog about the Battle of Britain on its website www.rafmuseum.org/blog

Entries for this blog will be taken from the diary of a young pilot John Bisdee of No.609 (West Riding) Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force; and will describe not only his combat sorties but also his hopes and fears as well as his life off duty. On days when there are no diary entries the blog will reproduce information from the Air Staff Operational Summaries.

The dates of 10th July to 31st October were selected as the blog’s publication dates as this period in 1940 was later laid down by the Royal Air Force for the allocation of Battle of Britain honours to units, and for aircrew to qualify for the Battle of Britain clasp.

Peter Elliott, the Head of Archives for the Royal Air Force Museum:

“First-hand accounts, written at the time of the Battle, are rare. Bisdee’s diary shows that life on the front line could be a mixture of intense action and off-duty relaxation.

We tend to think of the Battle as taking place over the South-East but Bisdee’s squadron, based in Hampshire, saw action over an area stretching from the outskirts of London to Bristol. There are some gaps, but we have filled these with extracts from the daily Air Staff Operational Summaries, to give a picture of the overall campaign and we have also added relevant material from the Museum’s collections, such as portraits of Bisdee and some of his colleagues and a number of the squadron’s combat reports.

The blog gives an opportunity to see the Battle of Britain unfold through the eyes of a young man who went on to become one of the RAF’s more successful fighter pilots; and it provides us with an added insight into what it was really like to be one of ‘The Few’. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank John Bisdee’s family for granting us permission to share his account, as a young man, with the Museum’s online audience.”

John Bisdee was born in Weston-Super-Mare in 1915 and joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1937. He saw action over Dunkirk in June 1940 and remained with 609 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain being awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and an OBE by the end of the war. He left the service in 1945 to resume his career with Unilever, before dying in October 2000.

To view his blog please visit www.rafmuseum.org/blog

Miniature aircraft, big show – this weekend at Cosford

Cosford model show

Date: 18-19 July 2015

Time: Gates open 8.30am

Cost: £10.00 on the gate

The skies over Shropshire will be filled with hundreds of intricately detailed model aircraft this weekend, as the annual Large Model Aircraft Rally takes place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.

This air show in miniature is set to entertain thousands of aviation enthusiasts with two full days of flying and family fun. Gates open at 8.30am on 18-19 July and pyrotechnic displays, mid-air dog fights and static line ups will wow the crowds from 9am until 5.30pm on the evening.

This year’s flying theme will be commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, considered the most important event in Royal Air Force history. Visitors to the show will see a spectacular anniversary display of World War Two aircraft, plus, aircraft from the early days of aviation; through to the modern jets of today will be flying during the model show weekend.

The Large Model Aircraft Rally promises to be a great day out for modellers and families alike with more than 65 exhibitors signed up to showcase some of the latest model kits and aviation accessories. Families are guaranteed to enjoy the family fun lined up which includes a children’s entertainment area, packed with mini motorbikes, bouncy castles and inflatable slides, all on offer to youngsters. Plus, keeping visitors fuelled for the day, there will be a fantastic range of food and drink on offer and visitors will have access to the RAF Museum where they can see many of the aircraft flown during the show in full size. A free bus service will take visitors from the event to the Museum throughout the day, making getting around the event even easier.

Advance postal tickets have now closed, but visitors to the Museum can still purchase tickets in advance at the discounted rate of £8 per adult. Tickets purchased on the gate cost £10 per adult and children under the age of 16 are FREE.

Exclusively for the Large Model Aircraft Rally, visitors are able to camp on site, meaning you can make the most of the weekend’s flying and activities by being at the centre of all the action. On site camping, including entrance to the show both days is only £45.00 and any visitors interested in camping should email public-camping@largemodelassociation.com or call 07827 675665.

For further information on the event visit: www.rafmuseum.org/cosford or call 01902 376200.