Category: UK Aviation Museum News

Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary & Allied Air Forces Day

This year’s Annual Allied Air Forces Day held here at the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, Elvington, on Sunday 5th September was once again the largest event of its type in the North, and this year marked the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Over 450 veterans, ex service personnel and serving members of the RAF took part in the Parade and Commemoration Service, followed by the March Past, Salute and Sunset Ceremony.

The Head of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton KCB ADC BSc FRAeS CCMI RAF, Chief of the Air Staff, took the Salute and he was attending in his capacity as Vice President of the Allied Air Forces Memorial. HM The Queen was represented by the Lord Lieutenant of East Yorkshire, the Hon. Mrs. Susan Cunliffe-Lister.

The poignant Service, led by YAM Chaplain the Revd. Taff Morgan MBE BA BSc RAF Rtd. reflected the fact that Winston Churchill’s famous speech, in which he stated that ” ..never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few” is actually directed at all British and Allied aircrews, not just those in Fighter Command, to whom the words have largely been attributed. Churchill’s speech actually pointed out that it was the bomber crews, undertaking their deadly missions to fly into heavily defended occupied lands to destroy enemy airfields and factories, that bore the brunt of the burden on the air force and would go on to “.. play an invaluable part in the case of invasion.”

With the loss of 998 aircrew RAF Bomber Command and Coastal Command lost more air crew during the period of the Battle of Britain, than the 544 pilots of Fighter Command, a fact very rarely reflected in articles about this epic battle of the skies.

Fittingly therefore, one of the veterans participating in the Parade was 89 years ‘young’ Ron “Bram” Bramley, who flew dangerous missions with 22 Squadron Coastal Command during the Battle of Britain in October 1940. He counts himself as one of the ‘Forgotten Few’ who seldom get the recognition they deserve. One of the few remaining Members of the Turret Committee, Ron attended as part of the Nottingham & Derby Air Crew Association contingent.

The Parade was made up of members of many regional Royal Air Force Associations, Royal British Legion Branches, Royal Observer Corps Association and other forces associations and also included a large contingent of serving personnel from 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF from RAF Leeming. This Squadron was first formed in 1936 in Yeadon (now Leeds / Bradford Airport), initially as a Bomber Squadron, but then designated to Fighter Command and one of the first Squadrons to be equipped with the new Spitfire Mk1a, went on to play a significant part in the Battle of Britain, claiming 85 ‘kills’ and going on to be the first Squadron to reach 100 victories – quite some going for what was initially a civilian Squadron. The Museum houses the fascinating 609 Squadron Memorial Room.

The Parade was led in style led by the Massed Bands of the Northern and Eastern Region Air Training Corps, and, unusually, a contingent of 9 members of the East Yorkshire RBL Riders Group on motorcycles taking part, with Standard. In all, 28 Standards were presented. The occasion culminated with a truly spectacular flypast by a Spitfire Mk 9 from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, swirling around magnificently in the sunny skies on the day, bringing an end to another wonderful day at Elvington.

www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

German Bomber Located on Goodwin Sands

A rare German wartime bomber has been discovered on the Goodwin Sands, seventy years after it was shot down during the height of the Battle of Britain. With a crew of four and loaded with 2000lb of bombs, the aircraft, a twin-engined Dornier 17 – known universally as ‘The Flying Pencil ‘- was part of a large enemy formation intercepted by RAF fighter aircraft at midday on 26 August 1940 as they attempted to attack airfields in Essex.
 
Boulton Paul Defiant fighters attacked the Dorniers at 13,000 ft over Deal in Kent before they had reached their intended target. They claimed at least six Dorniers destroyed and one damaged for the loss of three of their own aircraft and two air gunners killed.

 One of the Dorniers, flown by Feldwebel (Flt Sgt) Willi Effmert, attempted a wheels-up landing on the Goodwin Sands. He touched down safely and the aircraft sank inverted. Effmert and his observer were captured but the other crewmen died and their bodies were washed ashore later.

The aircraft is in remarkable condition – considering the events surrounding its loss plus the effects of spending so many years under water. Other than marine concretion it is largely intact, the main undercarriage tyres remain inflated and the propellers clearly show the damage inflicted during their final landing.

Since the Dornier emerged from the sands two years ago, the RAF Museum has worked with Wessex Archaeology to complete a full survey of the wreck site in preparation for the aircraft’s recovery and eventual exhibition at Hendon where it will form a centre-piece in the recently-announced Battle of Britain Beacon project.

Work to conserve and prepare the Dornier for display will be undertaken at the RAF Museum’s award-winning conservation centre at Cosford. Here the Dornier will be placed alongside the Museum’s Vickers Wellington which is currently undergoing long term restoration.

Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, Director General of the RAF Museum said that “The discovery of the Dornier is of national and international importance. The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from The Battle of Britain. It is particularly significant because, as a bomber, it formed the heart of the Luftwaffe assault and the subsequent Blitz.”

The RAF Museum, with the support of English Heritage and the Ministry of Defence, is now developing a recovery plan to protect the aircraft from any further damage and to provide for its long term preservation. There is concern, however, that material has recently been removed illegally from the wreck site – although a number of items have now been retrieved.

Air Vice-Marshal Dye stated that “The Dornier will provide an evocative and moving exhibit that will allow the Museum to present the wider story of the Battle of Britain and highlight the sacrifices made by the young men of both air forces and from many nations.”

More information about the recovery plan, together with film of the aircraft, will be available at the RAF Museum’s Battle of Britain weekend to be held at Hendon on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September 2010.

http://www.rafmuseum.org

Battle of Britains Hidden History To Be Revealed

Free Event 11th and 12th September

The Royal Air Force Museum London, the former site of RAF Hendon, is to examine the hidden history of the Battle of Britain, this September, as part of an open air living history festival dedicated to ‘The Few’.

As part of the weekend’s programme of events Sunday Times bestselling historian Patrick Bishop will explore the myths and realities of the Battle of Britain, examining the legends that have grown around ‘The Few’, the Spitfire and Winston Churchill; with members of the public welcome to join in the debate and question Patrick about mistaken common beliefs held by the public.

On the Saturday, he will be joined by Roger Moorhouse, the author of ‘Berlin at War’, to debate ‘The Battle of Britain – From Both Sides’. Here both historians will explore whether it was RAF determination and the ingenuity of British scientists that prevented invasion against a numerically superior enemy force or whether it was a lack of comprehension by Luftwaffe Commanders of the strategic importance RADAR and the RAF that enabled British Forces to claim victory in this campaign.

Further talks given by members of the Museum’s Department of Research and Information Services will explore the many challenges – including language – that had to be negotiated by the most successful Squadron of the campaign, 303 (Polish) Squadron in the talk ‘Repeat Please’. Whilst in ‘September 15th’ the museum explores this tumultuous day in 1940 and asks whether it was a pivotal to the outcome of the campaign as some historians believe.

Members of the public are invited, after each talk, to ask questions and to further debate each talk’s conclusions with each presenter. Additionally, the museum will be showing throughout the weekend, in the museum’s cinema, rare archive footage from the Battle of Britain – including ‘ White Eagle’ which examines the Polish contribution to the campaign and ‘Fighter Pilot’ which follows the day in the life of an actual Battle of Britain Squadron, during the campaign.

As part of the weekend activities, members of the public will be able to interact with re-enactors and question them on their roles and to witness a Scramble, as it would have been executed at RAF Hendon in 1940.

The Battle of Britain Weekend runs at the Royal Air Force Museum 11th and 12th of September from 11am to 5pm. The site itself is open from 10am to 6pm. Admission to the museum and to the Battle of Britain Weekend is free of charge. For further details, visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson or call 020 8205 2266.

Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Wins Top National Award

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford was last night crowned Winners of the ‘Small Employer of the Year Award 2010′ at The National Apprenticeship Awards 2010, an Oscar style awards ceremony in London.

Currently five apprentices are employed in the Museum’s Michael Beetham Conservation Centre. MBCC Manager Mr Tim Wallis and Training Manager, Mick Shepherd, were presented the award by Mr Peter Butler of BT, who sponsored the Small Employer of the Year category.

Mick Shepherd, Training Manager says:

“We are all absolutely delighted to have received this award. It is a wonderful accolade for the Royal Air Force Museum and particularly to the staff of the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, who have all shown great patience and understanding while passing on their skills and knowledge to our young apprentices.

It also reassures our Trustees that the massive investment they made, and the faith they placed, in the Apprenticeship Scheme has been completely worthwhile and underpins their ongoing commitment to the programme.” 

This time of year marks an important period for the apprentice programme as the annual exchange with students from America under the partnership established with and supported by, the museum’s American Foundation takes place. Next week will see two of Cosford’s apprentices Nathan Pugh and Martin Purcell-Shaw along with Deputy MBCC Manager, Darren Priday travel to America for a three week exchange programme.

The success of this ever-widening international scheme emphasises the growth and value attached to the MBCC’s forward thinking apprentice initiative and wider conservation training programme. The Conservation Centre currently has a team of five apprentices; soon to be seven as two new apprentices join the Museum later this year. In 2011, the MBCC will also manage Conservation courses for Aviation Engineering communities globally.

The Apprenticeships Awards 2010 is managed by City & Guilds within the structure of the Government National Apprentice Scheme.

The Conservation Centre will be open to the public from 15-20 November 2010 for visitors to gain behind-the-scenes access to aircraft conservation work and have a rare opportunity to view current projects including the latest arrival, the Wellington. Open from 10.15am – 1.00pm. 

The Museum is open daily from 10am – 6pm (last admission 5pm), admission is FREE.

http://www.rafmuseum.org/

RAF Museum to Launch Battle of Britain Blog

From 10th July, the Royal Air Force Museum will be publishing a daily blog about the Battle of Britain on its website www.battleofbritainbeacon.org. 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 life off duty.

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 Senior Keeper for the Museum’s Department of Research and Information Services, states:

“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.battleofbritainbeacon.org/pilots-blog. The Royal Air Force Museum London is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with last admission being at 5:30 pm. Admission is free.

 

Parade Veterans To View Model Memorial

National Service (RAF) Association Parade Sunday 4th July 2010

Spitfire Display 1.00pm (weather permitting)

A scale model of the recently commissioned Bomber Command Memorial will be on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford as part of the National Service (RAF) Association parade taking place on Sunday 4th July 2010.

The model will be on display in the Museum’s Hangar 1 and Project Coordinator David Forsyth, an MOD civilian who works in the RAF’s Directorate of Air Staff will be there to speak with veterans and visitors about the project and answer any questions they may have.

The Bomber Command Memorial, scheduled for construction in London’s Green Park, commemorates the 55,573 aircrew who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Including bronze sculptures depicting seven aircrew members as well as parts of a Halifax bomber shot down over Belgium in May 1944, this landmark Memorial is long overdue.

The Cosford Parade will commence at 11am with participants asked to fall in between the Airfield Hangars. This year, veterans parade in the presence of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, KCB, BSc, FRAeS, RAF who will be accompanied by Air Commodore CH Green, the Commandant of DCAE Cosford. 

The parade will be led by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force with visitors and guests also able to view a display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, scheduled for 1.00pm (weather permitting). The National ATC Championship Marching Band from Royton in Lancashire will entertain guests both before and after the parade with a dizzying display of marching, commencing at 9.45am.

This event first came to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in 2004 and has grown in strength each subsequent year. Last year, over 3,000 guests attended of which 600 or more presented themselves for the parade. All Veterans who served in the Royal Air Force are welcome to participate in the parade, providing them with the opportunity of being re-united with lost friends and colleagues. Members of the public are welcome to spectate.

National Veterans Organisations, as well as many training camp associations will be represented in Hangar 1 alongside displays of memorabilia and the Museum shop. On completion of the formal events, guests will have access to the whole RAF Museum site to catch up with old friends, exchange news and view the exhibits.

The Museum gates will open at 9am on Sunday 4th July 2010, although the Museum itself will open at 10am. Museum entry is free. For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the museum website at www.rafmuseum.org.

Model Air Show To Honour The Few

17-18 July 2010

Admission Charges Apply

Gates open 8.30am 

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Large Model Aircraft Rally taking place at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 17-18 July 2010, with ticket prices held for the fifth year running. This famous air show in miniature is an absolute must see for any aviation enthusiast, attracting in excess of 10,000 visitors with hundreds of scale models of iconic aircraft taking to the skies during the two-day event.

The main theme of this year’s show will be celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a full 2 hours of the show dedicated to flying aircraft from the era, including a mass flypast of fighters – possibly the biggest formation ever seen at a model air show.

An exclusive for this year’s show and new to Cosford will be the first public appearance of a 1/4 full size English Electric Lightning and the new formation of Vulcan and Victor flying together. The show also features airliners history slots, where modellers will be flying airliners through from the Handley Page HP 42, Ford Trimotor, DC3 Dakota, Comet airliner and two Airbuses from the modern day.

Chairman of the Large Model Association, Dave Johnson says:

“Nowhere else in the country will be displaying such a wide variety of aircraft this year and most of these cannot be seen flying in full size form anymore, so a real pull for aircraft enthusiasts everywhere. ”

Events and activities on the airfield include trade stands selling both modelling and non-modelling related items plus for the families, there will be a fun fair to keep the youngsters entertained throughout the day. In addition to all this, why not try one of the aircraft simulators? Sit inside and feel what its like to fly in many of the full size RAF aircraft of today.

Plus, the Museum will be open to visitors on both days where you can see the full sized aircraft including the world’s oldest Spitfire and the award winning National Cold War Exhibition home to the much loved Victor, Valiant and Vulcan.

Admission prices to the Large Model Aircraft Rally including entrance to the Museum are just £9 for adults, £5 for children and £7 for senior citizens with a family ticket of 2 adults and up to 2 children retailing at £20. On site camping is only £40.00 for the weekend. Gates open at 8.30am and don’t forget, if you take any photos, to enter them into the Museum’s Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Photography competition.

 For further information, please call the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on 01902 376200 or visit the Museum website at www.rafmuseum.org

More prizes confirmed for 2011 Calendar Competition

Great news as this years prize pot passes £600. Ebury Publishing have confirmed 3 copies of the “Boys Book of Airfix” (retailing at £20 each) as runners up prizes in this years Calendar Competition.

Free advertising again for the top 3 places on ANY Uradnet banner network – worth £12.50 each.

This years total prize pot now stands at £605 – with half going to the first prize winner.

I am still expecting to add more prizes during the coming weeks – so keep a look out and remember.. you gotta be in it to win it!

Good Luck, and I look forward to receiving your entries.

http://www.airscene.co.uk/competitions/2011calendar.php

Armed Forces Day for all 3 Services

Saturday 26th June 2010

10.30am – 3pm

All guests must pre-register

Come and celebrate the Museum’s annual joint service Armed Forces Day on 26th June.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is inviting Veterans, young and old, from all three services to join as one to celebrate the Museum’s Armed Forces’ Day on Saturday 26th June. During this special reunion, hosted by Museum staff, all Veterans will be treated to a full day’s programme of events and activities including a talk entitled ‘An Event on 30th August 1940′, plus special film screenings. Both depict the Battle of Britain, marking this years 70th Anniversary.

Veterans will be treated to tours around the Museum’s Conservation Centre. Here, Veterans and their guests will be able to view work on current restoration projects, such as the Handley Page Hampden, in an area not normally open to the public.

In addition to these activities the Museum will be holding a raffle on the day enabling Veterans to win tickets to some of the top local attractions, specially commissioned items and much much more.

Attendance at this event is by pre-registration only; with all pre-registered Veterans and their guests receiving a FREE drink on arrival. There will be a special lunch available at a discounted rate for guests to enjoy together in a designated area surrounded by aircraft. There will also be a chance to speak to some of the exhibitors including the Aerospace Museum Society, Robert Harrop figurines and Tony Bramham military drawings.

All-in-all this promises to be an exciting day that will enable Veterans to meet up with old friends, reminisce over shared experiences, and enjoy themselves in the authentic atmosphere and setting of the Royal Air Force Museum. With former Service Men and Women joining in from across Shropshire and the West Midlands, Armed Forces’ Day is set to be a truly memorable and sentimental gathering for Veterans and their guests to enjoy.

To make your reservation please call 01902 376 252 or send an email to the Museum at cosfordarmedforcesday@rafmuseum.org, stating your name, telephone number, service you were in and the name of your guest.

Entry to the Museum is free of charge. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm). For further details about Armed Forces’ Day please visit www.rafmuseum.org.

The Battle of Britain Beacon

At a fundraising dinner last night, The Royal Air Force Museum announced its vision for the future.

 

As part of its modernisation and development plan the Royal Air Force Museum has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain Exhibition building at its London site.

The provision of suitable funding, and the agreement with interested parties and authorities with whom the Museum is consulting widely, will dictate when the Trustees of the Museum will take the final decision to proceed with construction.

It is very fitting that in the year of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain the Royal Air Force Museum, as part of its modernisation and development plan, has undertaken the initial planning for a new Battle of Britain exhibition building at its Hendon site in London. Provisionally called the “Battle of Britain Beacon”, the plan looks towards the construction of a striking, landmark building which will do appropriate justice to this most defining event in the world’s history. The exciting concept will allow wider public access and ensure that the Museum’s unique collection of Battle of Britain aircraft, memorabilia and archives is preserved for the education and enjoyment of future generations. The building in its final form will include the latest audio/visual techniques to bring to life all aspects of the Battle, from the work of the groundcrews, whose tireless endeavours kept the aircraft in the air, through the life of the civilian population, to the gallant efforts of those who fought in the skies above Great Britain.

The new exhibition building will complement the successful modernisation already achieved at Hendon with the refurbishment of the Graham White Hangar, the imminent refurbishment of the former airfield watchtower and the opening of Milestones of Flight exhibition building. It will also allow the current somewhat restricted Battle of Britain Hall on the site to be used to display more of the Museum’s aircraft and archive collection. The Museum’s Cosford site has also seen the opening of the impressive National Cold War exhibition building opened in 2007 which has ensured the preservation of many of the important Cold War aircraft which we under threat

Currently the Museum is consulting widely about the ‘Battle of Britain Beacon project.’ The Museum hopes to complete the project within the lifetime of the surviving Veterans of the Battle.

http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org/