Posts Tagged ‘Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow’

Spitfires and Hurricanes dominate the skies at IWM Duxford as thousands flock to the Battle of Britain Air Show

Tuesday, September 19th, 2023

Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

Over 33,000 visitors flocked to IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire this weekend (16 and 17 September) for the iconic Battle of Britain Air show, making this year’s event the biggest to take place at Duxford since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The show featured displays from over 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows. For the first time in almost three decades, the last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ – flew in formation with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster treating visitors to a show stopping display from two of the most recognisable allied heavy bombers of the Second World War.

The famous Duxford ‘Big Wing’ featured 14 Spitfires and 4 Hurricanes in a moving tribute to the brave service men and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.
On the ground, crowds soaked up the sights and sounds with the help of living history groups, live performances from vintage musical acts, an historic fairground, and the opportunity to get close to original vintage warbirds on the Flight Line Walk.

Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, says: “We’re thrilled to have welcomed so many visitors to the Battle of Britain Air Show this weekend as we continue to celebrate 50 years of flying displays at Duxford. We’ve had a stand-out line-up this year, with an array of crowd favourites, from original vintage warbirds – including a mass flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes – to the daring aerobatic displays of the world-famous Red Arrows. Seeing the Avro Lancaster and ‘Sally B’ fly together for the first time in almost 30 years was a truly unforgettable moment and we hope to bring more of these unmissable experiences to visitors for many years to come.”

The Battle of Britain Air Show is the second major event of Duxford’s 50th anniversary Flying Season, which concludes with the Flying Finale on 14 October, marking 50 years to the day since the very first air day took place at Duxford in 1973.

Mass flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes to headline Battle of Britain Air Show as IWM Duxford celebrates 50 years of flying displays

Sunday, September 3rd, 2023

Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show

The iconic Battle of Britain Air Show returns to IWM Duxford this year for two-days of awe-inspiring aerial displays on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.

The standout event is the second major air show of Duxford’s 50th anniversary Flying Season, and to mark this special occasion, children aged 15 years and under can attend for free. Visitors will be treated to unmissable displays from over 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including a mass flypast of 12 Spitfires and 4 Hurricanes, to commemorate the brave service men and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.

In a must-see moment for aviation fans, the last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ – will be brought together with the RAF’s Avro Lancaster for a rare formation of the two most recognisable allied heavy bombers of the Second World War. The formation will be the first time the two bombers have flown together for over two decades and the first time ever at Duxford.

Other crowd-pleasers in the packed aerial line-up include the only airworthy two-seater Hawker Hurricane in the world, a Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft replicating a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt fighter, the legendary North American P51-D Mustang, and the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which will feature the Avro Lancaster, flanked by the Spitfire and Hurricane in a moving tribute to those who served.

The world-famous Red Arrows will take to the skies of Duxford on both days of the weekend event with a thrilling display of daring aerobatics.

On the ground, crowds will be transported back in time to the sights and sounds that kept spirits up in the summer of 1940, and meet a cast of wartime characters recreating the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station. Visitors can dress up in vintage attire, swing dance to wartime music, get their hair done in the style of the era and hear stories of those who lived and served at the historic base.

The ticket price includes access to IWM Duxford’s exhibitions and hangars throughout the day, packed full of aircraft, vehicles, collection items and personal stories of war and conflict.

Phil Hood, Air Show Event Manager, said: “The Battle of Britain Air Show is a highlight of IWM Duxford’s annual Flying Season as visitors get to experience what life would have been like for those who lived and served at RAF Duxford during the war.

“This is a very special year for IWM as we celebrate fifty years of entertaining crowds through aerial displays. This year’s air show is no exception, with appearances from an array of fan favourites, including the return of Duxford’s famous Spitfire flypast, and an historic formation when the Sally B and Avro Lancaster fly together for the first time in decades. We’re looking forward to greeting visitors, both old and new, to the show this year and hope to be entertaining crowds at Duxford for another 50 years to come.”

In addition to the Air Show, IWM Duxford will also be commemorating the Battle of Britain with the following events:

IWM In Conversation: Battle of Britain | 9 September | 9am – 6pm
Tickets £40 (Ticket price includes general admission)

Join us for a day packed with fascinating talks from guest speakers, historians, authors, pilots and IWM experts. Featuring in a static display, get a closer look at IWM Duxford’s Supermarine Spitfire MK.1 N3200 alongside Hawker Hurricane MK.1 V7497, which flew with 501 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.

Battle of Britain Tour | Daily from 9 to 15 September | 2pm
Tickets £10 (Admission to IWM Duxford not included)

Join one of our expert IWM guides for a 60-minute tour exploring Duxford’s role in the Battle of Britain. Hear about the background to the battle, learn about the RAF’s secret weapon the ‘Dowding System’ and uncover the myths, controversies and realities surrounding this iconic aerial campaign. Ask your own questions to our expert and explore our exhibitions The Battle of Britain Exhibition and Battle of Britain: Ops Block.

IWM Presents: The Battle of Britain | 23 September | From 10:30am
Tickets £30 (Ticket price includes general admission)

Join best-selling author Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS at IWM Duxford as he introduces his latest book titles, Faces of the Few and Battle of Britain the Movie. Hear Dilip talk about both publications in detail, adding more of his in-depth knowledge about the many people involved in the Battle of Britain. The event also includes a book signing with the author, followed by a chance to watch a screening of the film Battle of Britain (1969) in our Marshall Auditorium.

Duxford In a Different Light: Battle of Britain | 23 September | 5pm to 9pm (entry to IWM Duxford from 4pm)
Tickets £80

Join us for an outdoor, after-hours photography event dedicated to this pivotal moment in 20th century history. Using lighting and living history actors, Spitfires, Hurricanes and more will be brought to life against the backdrop of Duxford’s historic buildings to create evocative opportunities for your photographs. The event will culminate with the Westland Lysander performing an engine run as the sun goes down for an extra special photo opportunity.

Newly digitised footage of 1969 Battle of Britain film to be screened at Duxford air show

Thursday, September 12th, 2019

Prince William of Gloucester

• Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show will celebrate the history of cinema at IWM Duxford, 21-22 September
• Footage was filmed by and features a rare royal glimpse of Prince William of Gloucester, and will be screened on both air show days at 12.30pm and 3.45pm in the AirSpace Zone

 Imperial War Museums (IWM) has digitised and released rarely seen footage of the making of the 1969 Battle of Britain film, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Michael Caine classic and IWM Duxford’s annual Battle of Britain Air Show.

 The striking amateur footage was filmed by Prince William of Gloucester, who can also been seen inside the cockpit of a Spitfire on IWM Duxford’s airfield. A trained pilot, the prince was tragically killed in an air race in 1972.

 The unique behind-the-scenes footage of director Guy Hamilton’s 1969 film, which tells the story of the Allied victory over the Luftwaffe in 1940, shows the production crew preparing for the shoot including testing pyrotechnics. While filming part of the Eagle Day sequence at RAF Duxford, the crew deliberately exploded and destroyed one of the airfield’s First World War Air hangars.

 IWM Duxford, Britain’s best preserved Second World War airfield, has played a significant role in the history of filmmaking in Britain. This year’s Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, which takes place 21-22 September at IWM Duxford, will celebrate the site’s place in cinema history – and will be screening Prince William of Gloucester’s amateur footage along with other classics over the two-day festival.

 Jane Fish, senior film curator at IWM, said: “The footage has rarely been seen outside of the family of Prince William of Gloucester, and so it’s wonderful to have been able to digitise it and make it accessible for people. It’s a really evocative glimpse into the making of Battle of Britain film, and you can even see the production team preparing special effects, including a small explosion on a bomber aircraft. The fact that it was filmed by Prince William of Gloucester gives the footage even more of a rich historical association.”

 The air show will include displays from an array of original Second World War aircraft, including P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts, and will culminate in a mass flypast of 18 Spitfires. Four Búchon fighter jets with Luftwaffe markings, which starred in the 1969 Battle of Britain film, will also take flight.

 The air show will also feature the Bremont Great War display team, who starred in George Clooney’s The Monuments Men (2014), and aircraft from films including Memphis Belle (1990); Pearl Harbour (2001), Dunkirk (2017) and Squadron 303 (2018).

 On the ground, IWM Duxford will be transformed into a film set once again, giving visitors the opportunity to dance their way into a party scene, or step in as an extra and deliver their lines. History lovers can watch cinematic footage from IWM’s archives, while fashionistas can enter a best dressed competition, or try on a costume from the wardrobe department.

 You can find out more about the air show below, and see trailers here.

Flights, camera, action: Spitfires, Búchons and a Blenheim star in cinematic Battle of Britain Air Show

Friday, August 16th, 2019

Buchon at Duxford

Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 September 2019

Tickets from £35; kids go free*

September’s Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show will include displays from an array of original Second World War aircraft, including P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts, and will culminate in a mass flypast of 19 Spitfires, including a Mk. XVIII Spitfire. Four Búchon fighter jets with Luftwaffe markings, which starred in the 1969 Battle of Britain film, will take flight. There will also be a Battle of Britain formation flight of three Mk. I Spitfires and four Hurricanes, aircraft which were both flown by famous Duxford resident Douglas Bader.

Highlights this year include a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster, a USAAF’s Vultee BT-13 Valiant, and a Russian Yakovlev Yak-9 from Switzerland. Also flying are T-33 and MiG15 Korean jets which played roles in the 2016 Flyboys film starring James Franco. A Hawker Fury will be flying a solo display, while a Mercury formation will feature two Westland Lysanders and a Gloster Gladiator.

The Bremont Great War display team starred in George Clooney’s The Monuments Men (2014), while the B-17 Flying Fortress called Sally B featured in the 1990 remake of Memphis Belle. The Hawker Hurricane, the RAF’s first monoplane fighter, featured alongside Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in Pearl Harbour (2001) and Squadron 303 (2018).

On the ground, visitors can explore IWM Duxford’s exhibitions and hangars. The Battle of Britain hangar tells the story of the aerial campaign, and features an Mk I Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3. Next door is Hangar Base, the concrete floor remains of a First World War hangar that was blown up and destroyed by the Battle of Britain film crew as part of the Eagle Day sequence.

IWM Duxford will be transformed into a film set once again, giving visitors the opportunity to dance their way into a party scene, or step in as an extra and deliver their lines. History lovers can watch cinematic footage from IWM’s archives, while fashionistas can enter a best dressed competition, or try on a costume from the wardrobe department.

The D-Day-themed Normandy Experience in the Land Warfare Exhibition features a soundscape and costumes from Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan (1998). In the American Air Museum, there is a display on Willie Wyler, the director of The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944) who served during the Second World War with the U.S. Air Force.

www.iwm.org.uk

Important safety information for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show this weekend

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

Ahead of The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show this weekend, IWM Duxford has released some important safety information that it wishes to share:

IWM Duxford takes great care to ensure its air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.

It is not safe to occupy the fields immediately south of the runway during the air show. If you do so you are putting yourself and the display pilots in harm’s way.

In support of this, Grange Road will be closed on 19 and 20 September 2015.

In the event of an incident it is imperative that the emergency services have clear, unhindered access to the tracks across this land.

There is no public access to these fields at any time.

Jointly issued by IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the landowners.

www.iwm.org.uk

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show is now Sold Out

Tuesday, September 15th, 2015

All tickets have now been sold for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.IWM is now advising:

· Anyone without a ticket should not attempt to travel to IWM Duxford on either Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September as it will not be possible for them to gain entry to the air show.

· Visitors who have purchased their tickets for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show should allow plenty of time for travelling and follow the AA signs for the air show rather than sat nav.

· Those who have tickets for the air show and are travelling by car should display the car parking passes in their car window to help ensure speedy parking and access to IWM Duxford.

Those who may be disappointed by this news can still experience the build-up to The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show by visiting throughout this week as final preparations are made across the museum and aircraft practice their flying displays above the historic airfield.

Duxford’s historic Battle of Britain atmosphere can be experienced by visitors to IWM Duxford throughout the year. It was at RAF Duxford that the first Spitfires came into service, with the pilots of No.19 Squadron. In IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain exhibition, contained in the hangar that was home to those Spitfires, visitors can discover how Britain defended its skies during this epic aerial battle and can hear the memories of those young Spitfire pilots. The 1940 Operations Room demonstrates how fighter aircraft were directed into battle, while the Historic Duxford exhibition shows what life was like on a busy RAF fighter base. Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain, a new permanent exhibition at IWM Duxford, presents the personal stories of seven people who served at RAF Duxford during the demanding days of the Battle of Britain.

www.iwm.org.uk

Typhoon and Spitfire to fly together for the first time at The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show at IWM Duxford

Thursday, September 3rd, 2015

Duxford Typhoon & Spitfire

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a Eurofighter Typhoon from 29 (R) Squadron and a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take to the skies together for a remarkable flying display as part of The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show on Saturday 19 September.

This award-winning display presents the iconic fighter aircraft that defended Britain’s skies 75 years ago alongside the contemporary fighter aircraft that has the same role today.

The state-of-the art Typhoon fighter jet is painted, for 2015, in a Battle of Britain-era colour scheme to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of the aircrews who took part in the battle 75 years ago.

RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Group Captain Jez Attridge said, “This fully operational Typhoon will be a dynamic reminder to all that see it over the summer of the link between the modern Royal Air Force and The Few that defended our nation 75 years ago during the battle. Today that mission endures with Typhoons on Quick Reaction Alert, every minute of every day. The RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons defend the UK against potentially hostile aircraft approaching the UK sovereign airspace.” Group Captain Attridge added: “The technology has changed since the Battle of Britain but the mission for the RAF to protect the UK remains unchanged”.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict.

The Typhoon Display is flown by 29 (Reserve) Squadron from RAF Coningsby. It showcases the incredible performance of the aircraft and also demonstrates the dedication, professionalism and excellence of the RAF personnel who fly, maintain and support Typhoon operations in the UK and across the world.

The agility, power and aerodynamic styling of the Supermarine Spitfire made it the best-known fighter aircraft of the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire is synonymous with Duxford, as it was here that the first Spitfires came into service in 1938. The Spitfire was produced in greater numbers than any other fighter aircraft of the Second World War and was the only fighter aircraft to be continuously produced throughout the Second World War.

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September) will be an immersive and poignant experience for everyone. Flying displays, including a massed flypast of Spitfires, will be combined with wartime music and the voices of men and women who served. Living history groups will recreate the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station in 1940.

The flying display explores the development of the Battle of Britain and its significant role in the Allied victory of the Second World War. The beginning of the Battle of Britain is commemorated by a Spitfire scramble. Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft fly in and as the scramble bells sounds, living history interpreters representing RAF fighter pilots race to the airfield and Supermarine Spitfires chase off the enemy aircraft.

Visitors will hear the audio memories of Battle of Britain pilots, recalling waiting to scramble and the exhilaration of the dogfight.

The sacrifice made by Battle of Britain pilots and the feat of winning the Battle is commemorated with contemporary displays including the Red Arrows (Sunday only) and the Aerostars (Saturday only).

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show takes place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September and tickets are only available in advance. Tickets are now only available for Saturday 19 September. Online booking will close on Sunday 13 September. Tickets can be purchased in person at IWM Duxford and IWM London until Friday 18 September.

www.iwm.org.uk

Telling the story of the Battle of Britain

Sunday, August 2nd, 2015

Battle of Britain Airshow Duxford

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show at IWM Duxford on

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September

Advance Tickets Only.

Book before Monday 3 August to receive 50% off child tickets and 10% off adult tickets

This September, IWM Duxford’s The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show will tell the story of this vital aerial battle in its 75th anniversary year.

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show will be an immersive and poignant experience for everyone. Epic flying displays, including a massed flypast of twenty Spitfires, will be combined with wartime music and the voices of men and women who served. Living history groups will recreate the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station in 1940.

The flying display explores the development of the Battle of Britain and its significant role in the Allied victory of the Second World War. The Coming of the Second World War demonstrates how RAF Duxford prepared for active service, the arrival of the Supermarine Spitfire, and the importance of the radar stations that formed an integral part of the Air Defence of Great Britain.

This flying display shows the aircraft that were flown by the RAF at the outbreak of the Second World War, including the Hawker Nimrod Mark I, Hawker Nimrod II, Gloster Gladiator, Hawk 75, de Havilland Tiger Moth and Boeing Stearman. The development of radar defences are represented in a flying display by an autogyro, de Havilland Hornet Moth and a Kirby Kite.

The Outbreak of the Second World War looks at the events that followed Britain’s declaration of war on Germany, when Britain stood alone against the German forces. We mark this with a display by the Bristol Blenheim, accompanied by two Hawker Hurricanes and a Hawker Sea Hurricane.

The beginning of the Battle of Britain is commemorated by a Spitfire scramble. Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft fly in and as the scramble bells sounds, living history interpreters representing RAF fighter pilots race to the airfield and Supermarine Spitfires chase off the enemy aircraft.

Visitors will hear the audio memories of Battle of Britain pilots, recalling waiting to scramble and the exhilaration of the dogfight.

As the Battle of Britain developed, so did the tactics of the pilots of RAF Fighter Command.

A flying display of North American Harvard and Yale aircraft demonstrate the varying formations and tactics employed by the RAF as the Battle of Britain continued.

The Duxford Big Wing came into operation for the first time in a patrol over North Weald. This key moment in Duxford’s history is honoured with a massed flypast of twenty Spitfires taking off from this historic Second World War airfield.

The sacrifice made by Battle of Britain pilots and the feat of winning the Battle is commemorated with contemporary displays including the Red Arrows (Sunday only) and the Aerostars (Saturday only).

www.iwm.org.uk