Sunday was the IWM Duxford Spring Air Show which featured the best of the RAF, past and present as well as commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
During the Battle of Britain, Duxford frequently scrambled its fighters against the Luftwaffe. RAF Fighter Command was divided into groups. 11 Group operated from South East England. 12 Group covered the area further North. Duxford controlled a sector of 12 Group's area.
No 19 Squadron, based at Duxford, were the first to re-equip with the new Supermarine Spitfire aircraft which was flown into Duxford in August 1938 by Jeffrey Quill who was Supermarine's test pilot.
In February 1940, Flying Officer Douglas Bader was posted to No.19 Squadron. Bader is the most famous of a number of Fighter Command heroes who flew from Duxford.
![]() Hurricane |
![]() Hurricanes |
![]() Spitfire |
![]() Spitfire |
![]() Spitfire |
Bader's 'Big Wing' as it had become known was ready for action by 15th September 1940, which became know as 'Battle of Britain Day', and succesfully repulsed the Luftwaffe attacks which were aimed at London.
![]() Chipmunk |
![]() B-17 |
![]() Tucano T1 |
![]() Dakota |
![]() Dakota |
![]() Nimrod |
![]() Sea King |
![]() Spitfire |
![]() Harvard |
![]() Sea Fury |
The RAF Tutor T1 from 115(R) Squadron, RAF Cranwell was cleared to display. The Grob Tutor 115E is used by the RAF for elementary flying training and replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog. There was a Scottish Aviation Bulldog (XX630) on the flight-line on static display. The BBMF Dakota Mk III also displayed and bears the markings of 267 'Pegasus' Squadron, which flew Dakotas in the Middle East and the Mediterranean during 1943/4.
![]() Hawk T1 |
![]() Hunter |
![]() Hunter |
![]() Black Cats |
![]() Hunter/Sabre |
![]() Hunter/Sabre |
![]() Hunter/Sabre |
![]() Hunter/Sabre |
![]() Hunter/Sabre |
![]() F-86 Sabre |
Historic Aircraft Collection's (HAC) Hawker Nimrod displayed next followed by a role demo by a 22 Squadron Sea King which is based at RAF Wattisham and then the Percival Pembroke. The RAF Typhoon was to have displayed with a Spitfire but the Spitfire performed a solo display. The Fighter Collection's (TFC) Sea Fury T-20 gave an impressive display showing the power of this aircraft which was one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever to be built. The Sea Fury served in the Korean war and was one of the few propeller aircraft ever to shoot down a jet.
The de Havilland Dragon Rapide displayed with a couple of Chipmunks and the Fighter Collection displayed its North American Harvard and TF-51D Mustang 'Miss Velma'. The Royal Navy Black Cats displayed in two Lynx helicopters showing off the capabilities and agility of these helicopters. The 'Black Cats' name comes from naval slang meaning one-upmanship. The North American F-86A Sabre put on a display and was joined by the Hawker Hunter, 'Miss Demeanour'. The Sabre saw service in the Korean war where it shot down the enemy at a kill/loss ratio of over 10 to 1.
Article by Dave Key with additional photographs by Phil Catleugh & David Hackney.