Tuesday 26 April 2011

East Kirkby- Lancaster




If one person goes away with a better knowledge of Bomber Command, their losses and what they gave for our country, we are one step closer to repaying our debt to them."
Lincs Aviation Heritage Centre

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is a family run museum and was set up over 20 years ago. It is now widely seen as a living memorial to the 55,500 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WW2. It holds one of the rarest aircraft, an Avro Lancaster Bomber, in its collection along with many wartime vehicles including a Ford WOT1 Crew Bus, the only one of its kind known in existance.

We feel that Bomber Command has never been given the recognition that it deserves and we see it as our job to educate both old and young as to the acts of heroism and dedication shown by Bomber Command throughout the Second World War.

The average age of air crew was 22 and not even 1 in 4 completed their first tour of 30 operations, most definitely a debt that we cannot repay but also a debt that should not be forgotten.

We are based on the old wartime airfield of RAF East Kirkby. We retain the original 1940's Control Tower and our Hangar is built on the original wartime hangar base.

Our Museum is built up entirely around RAF Bomber Command but the exhibits and displays span many areas such at The Home Front and Escape and Evasion giving you a wide perspective on wartime Britain and the trials and tribulation of the Second World War.

The Museum is expanding every year and it is our common ambition to fully rebuild it to a complete original wartime airfield preserving the memory of Bomber Command for many years to come.

This informationis taken from their website and I have added my photographs taken from our visit their yesterday.
An amazing place to visit. The noise from the Lancaster brought tears to my eyes, as I imagined my father sitting inside taxing down the runway.

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