Shoreham Aircraft Museum - News

Autumn/Winter 2011 Gazette

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:09:01 +0000

The latest ‘mono’ edition of ‘Friends of The Few’ has gone out to Museum Club members. Contents include:

Battle of Britain period Spitfire propeller assembly in the Teagarden
Museum and Membership News
“My flight with a Battle of Britain pilot” – in a glider
You lose some … you win some! Aircraft recovery experiences
“Lost Me109” story as featured in the ‘ Britain at War’ magazine
Our Dwindling Few – tributes paid to our Finest recently passed away
The experience of a taxi ride in the preserved Lancaster ‘Just Jane’
Report about the ‘Bomber Boys’ Memorial fundraising event
‘Steinbock Night Victors’ – a Luftwaffe parachute segment reveals a dramatic story

Daughter of ‘One of The Few’ visits the Museum

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:07:11 +0000

In November 2011, the Museum was delighted to welcome Alexandra, the daughter of the well-known Battle of Britain fighter pilot Group Captain ‘Johnny’ Kent DFC & Bar, AFC, VM. Shoreham was a highlight on Alexandra’s tour of places linked to her father’s RAF career, where she saw his chalked signature on the famous ‘White Hart’ Blackout Screen, a signed copy of his Cuthbert Orde pencil sketch and an original letter Johnny Kent wrote about the importance of the White Hart Inn to Biggin Hill based pilots.

Johnny Kent served with distinction as a Flight Commander with the Polish pilots of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, before taking command of 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill in late October 1940.

Alexandra found it a very moving experience to see the items linked to her late father and hopes to re-visit Shoreham in the near future with other members of her family.

Sit-in-a-Spit joy

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:04:23 +0000

Saturday 19^th November 2011 saw another popular event delighting ‘boys & girls’ of all ages in the thrilling and privileged experience to sit in one of two fully airworthy Spitfires at the RAF’s one-time premier fighter station at Biggin Hill.

Much thanks has to go to ‘Spirit of Kent’ Spitfire owner Peter Monk and his terrific team for their kindness and generosity in trusting and allowing the ‘clumsy-foot’ and ‘sticky-paws’ brigade to sit in the cockpit of such precious machines and magnificent symbols of Great Britain’s heritage. Judging by the beaming smiles of the ‘sitters’, it was very much appreciated by one-and-all.

If this is an experience you’ve yet to have, then the next event is on the weekend of Saturday 31^st March and Sunday 1^st April 2012. For more information please call the Museum on 01959 524416.

Remembering Flight Lieutenant Robin Lucas

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:49:16 +0000

It is a sad duty to report the recent passing in late September 2011 of Battle of Britain veteran and Boulton Paul Defiant pilot Robin Lucas. He served with 141 Squadron until mid-1941 and just before leaving the squadron, Robin was flying on patrol in his Defiant night-fighter when Rudolf Hess made his dramatic flight to Scotland in early May 1941, but he was just too late to make an interception as Hess had baled out to be captured.

Robin was a tremendous supporter of Museum fund-raising projects and kindly attended several signing events including ‘Eagle Heights’ in 2006, where he was always a popular participant on account of being one of the ‘rarer’ turret-gun fighter boys. Blue skies Robin.

2011 ‘Extra’ Gazette

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:40:58 +0000

The latest ‘extra’ edition of ‘Friends of The Few’ has gone out to Museum Club members. Contents include:

STOP PRESS: ‘Dig news’
Museum and Membership News
Remembering ‘Beryl’ – poignant story about one of ‘The Few’
Our wonderful visiting veterans
Tribute to Wg/Cmdr John Beazley DFC
Report on the ’Bomber Boys’ signing event
Highlighting a wristwatch once belonging to a shot down Luftwaffe pilot

Britain at War

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:38:00 +0000

The Museum has been featured in a superb article in the November 2011 issue of the ’Britain at War’ magazine about a “Lost Me109 Found”. The cover artwork by our very own Geoff Nutkins depicts the combat that led to the demise of the Messerschmitt high above Maidstone in Kent during the Battle of Britain.

Rodney’s great day

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:07:10 +0000

Rodney Scrase DFC, kindly spent a day at the Museum on Sunday 9th October 2011 to meet and greet visitors both young and old, plus to sign books and prints. It was a double delight in that Rodney sold many copies of his interesting book ‘Spitfire Saga’. Sales were so good, that he had to send his dear wife Sue off to fetch more copies!

Bomber Boys fund-raiser

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:36:41 +0000

It was a fantastic delight to welcome six wonderful RAF Bomber Command veterans to the Museum on Sunday 25th September 2011, to help raise funds towards the planned Bomber Command Memorial due to be unveiled in Green Park, London, in May 2012.

Attending the event (left to right) were veterans, Eric ‘Timber’ Woods, Tony Iveson, Joe Cook, Bob Woods, Sid Beaver and John Banfield. Thanks to their signing efforts, the terrific sum of £800 was raised along with an additional £100 in donations for the fund-raising wristbands. In total, the Museum has so far raised over £2,000 this season towards the Fund.

We would like to also to thank author Steve Darlow for supporting the event. His book ‘Failed to Return’ was a popular purchase to have signed by the Bomber Boys. See here for more details: http://www.fightinghigh.com/bombercommandfailedtoreturn.htm

PLEASE READ! However we now learn that the UK Treasury are seeking £500,000 in VAT from the Memorial Fund, which is scandalous. How dare they take the donations that we and many other individuals and groups have given specifically for the Fund, only for the ‘fools’ at The Treasury to no doubt waste it in ways that will only increase our anger!!! 55,573 members of Bomber Command gave their lives in the Second World War and they’ve got the cheek to demand a whopping tax bill. The Museum’s opinion of this is unprintable! If equally disgusted by this, please lobby/write to your MP or contact The Treasury direct to demand they stop this outrageous theft. Thank you. See report here: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/273689/Anger-grows-at-half-a-million-tax-bill-for-heroes-memorial

Return of Harry

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:20:51 +0000

The Museum welcomed SOE veteran Harry Verlander and his dear wife Liz for another visit to Shoreham on the August Bank Holiday and as ever our amazing hero entertained visitors with his extraordinary tales of his behind enemy lines activities. Our young volunteer Aiden met Harry for the first time and now knows how to deal with a Japanese soldier swinging a Samurai sword in his face!

Typhoon Day

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:24:57 +0000

It was a rare and wonderful occasion to welcome three Hawker Typhoon veterans to the Museum on Sunday 17th July 2011.

Sydney Pigden, Jack Hodges DFC and Ron Pottinger (L to R in picture) all had amazing tales to tell of their experiences flying the mighty RAF ground-attack fighter. They also did sterling work signing prints and books for Museum visitors and Geoff Nutkins classic Typhoon print “Double Trouble“, signed by all three guests is available to purchase. All proceeds from the sale of the print go to the Museum’s projects. Please contact the Museum for details.