Duxford

This was just a normal weekend at Duxford; no air-show. But historic planes were flying everywhere, DeHavilland Dragon Rapides, Tiger Moths, an F86 Sabre Jet, Hurricanes, Spitfires, and the B-17...next post. In Hangar 2 they are restoring dozens of planes, including some rare creatures, a Heinkel-Jaeger bomber, Me109s, a Storch. And there are scores more on display, most intact, some, like a Zero, just a fuselage or wing. Amazing place.

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford is an unbelieveable place: an old RAF/8th
Air Force base, restored, with six or more giant hangars of aircraft, chronicling
British aviation, the Battle of Britain, and WWII.

There are American warplanes all over Duxford, many restored to flying condition,
but the American Hangar features three or four dozen American warbirds, all the way
from the Sopwith Camel to the F-15 

Not least is a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, made up to look like George Bush's
"Barbara"

 

The combat information center at Duxford has been restored to 1940; Duxford was
base to Douglas Bader's RAF squadron 242; Bader, a double-amputee after a flying
accident in the 30s, convinced the RAF he could still fly, rose to lead the 242th,
evenutally was shot down over Germany, a POW, then escaped.... 

A Hawker Hurricane, the work-horse of the Battle of Britain, approaches

I confess I did pause to enjoy a warm [sic] one, a Spitfire,
"The Bottle of Britain"