RAF Museums to honour Battle of Britain heroes

To honour the brave men and women who took part in the Battle of Britain, one of the most pivotal events in Royal Air Force history, the RAF Museum's at Hendon and Cosford are running a series of events on the 12 - 13 September.

RAF Museum Cosford in the West Midlands is inviting members of the public to view a flypast of two of the most iconic British aircraft of the Second World War.

On Saturday 12th September visitors will be treated to a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota at 14.45hrs-15.10hrs. On Sunday 13th September there will be a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire at 14.25hrs - 14.50hrs. Both flypasts are subject to weather conditions.

The RAF Museum Cosford houses a collection of 70 aircraft in three wartime hangars and is home to the £12.5m award winning National Cold War Exhibition. The Museum's Warplanes collection houses several significant aircraft from the World War II period including the "Wooden Wonder" the de Havilland Mosquito used for low level night time raids; the magnificent Hawker Hurricane popular with Battle pilots due to its high manoeuvrability and rugged construction; plus the aerobatic master of the sky a Supermarine Spitfire MK1, the oldest remaining example of its type in the world.

The Museum is open daily from 10am - 6pm. Entry to the Museum 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.

There will also be a series of events at Hendon in London including:

Re-enactors: Meet the young fighter pilots of 1940 and ask them about their experiences during the great battle in the sky.

Living history area: Visit the scramble tent, to see how the pilots lived. Always on standby awaiting the ring of the bell.

Tableaux will include a "Scramble" and raid interception at 11:30 am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm each day based on events taking place at RAF Hendon on 15th September 1940.

Special film shows: Watch some classic wartime footage, newsreels and propaganda shorts in the Museum’s own 200-seat movie theatre:

Handling Collection: Get in character with four pocket tunics, flying suits and other paraphernalia. Here’s your chance to try on some authentic RAF uniforms and flying clothes and have your photo taken by the Spitfire.

Live music: Kick back and listen to some authentic 1940’s era music.

Talks : Taking place in the Battle of Britain Hall at 12.15, 2.15, & 4.15 pm by our resident experts, these will give an added insight into the Battle, The Few and the women so integral to operational success.

Sat & Sun
12.15 pm - In the Round(al): The RAF and the Battle of Britain.

2.15 pm - 'The Few': The Fighter Pilots of the Battle of Britain.

4.15 pm - Wind Beneath Their Wings: The Women of the Battle of Britain.

Free Tours : Free tours around the Museum’s Battle of Britain Hall will give added insight into the heroes who defended London from the air and the ground.

Children’s activities: There will be a range of activities in the Museum’s Aeronauts Interactive Gallery where children will be able to make, free of charge, their own cut out and keep Spitfire as well as a fun quiz trail that will take them Battle of Britain Hall.

All this and the permanent ‘Battle of Britain’ exhibition Hall, featuring the emotionally charged multimedia experience ‘Our Finest Hour’.

For more informaton go to: www.rafmuseum.org

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