Easter extravaganza at Imperial War Museum Duxford
Spring is just around the corner, and what better way to combat the winter blues than by
planning your Easter visit to Imperial War Museum Duxford?
Imperial War Museum Duxford is set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside and is the
perfect place to enjoy an active day out.
There are fun family activities on offer throughout the Easter holidays, enabling visitors to get
hands-on with Second World War history.
Easter opening times are 10.00am-6.00pm and children go FREE.
Activities include:
Home Front Britain
A family-friendly talk hosted by the team from IWM Duxford’s Department for Learning.
Home Front Britain looks at the effect of the SecondWorld War on the lives of ordinary
people and focuses on rationing, ARP precautions and the volunteer organisations that
protected Britain against enemy invasion.
The talk lasts for 1 hour and includes the opportunity to handle original Second World War
Home Front artefacts and to ask questions.
To ensure a place on one of the talks, booking is essential. To book, please contact Philip
Sawford, Informal Learning Manager on 01223 499342 or email psawford@iwm.org.uk.
Home Front Britain talks take place in AirSpace on Thursday 8 and Thursday 15 April
commencing at 11.00am and 1.00pm.
Secrets and Spies
Learn about the Second World War Spooks who worked undercover in the clandestine
world of espionage and sabotage.
See an original spy aircraft and hear about the perilous role it undertook in dropping agents
into occupied France. See some of the ingenious artefacts used in secret operations,
including message containers, weapons and explosives.
Children will be able to put their newly acquired cloak and dagger skills to the test by
searching a secret agent mannequin to discover where a number of spy gadgets are hidden.
They will also have the opportunity to try their hand at code-breaking in true Bletchley Park
style!
Secrets and Spies will take place in AirSpace on Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7, Thursday
8 and Friday 9 April from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Legendary Lancaster
Learn what it was like to fly in the legendary Lancaster bomber during the Second World
War.
Meet a costumed interpreter acting the role of a Lancaster rear turret gunner and hear all
about life as a member of Bomber Command.
Discover more about the aircraft and its crew, hear about the dangerous missions flown over
occupied Europe, handle original objects associated with the Lancaster bomber and try on
authentic equipment worn by Second World War pilots.
Legendary Lancaster will take place on Monday 12, Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15
and Friday 16 April from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Additional activities will include:
B-17 Bomber Crew
Meet a waist gunner from Duxford’s B-17 Flying Fortress, Mary Alice.
Learn about what life was like for the men of the United States Army Air Force in Great
Britain, a country that was completely alien to their American way of life.
Hear about bombing missions over occupied Europe and the dangers faced by the crews of
the B-17 Flying Fortresses.
Exact dates and times to be advised. Please keep an eye on the IWM Duxford website for
more details.
Make do and Mend on the Home Front
Experience life on the Home Front with hands-on craft activities creating ‘Make Do and Mend’
wartime toys, propaganda posters and rag rugs. All items created can be taken home to be
displayed in pride of place!
Exact dates and times to be advised. Please keep an eye on the IWM Duxford website for
more details.
Throughout the Easter holidays, explainers will be conducting handling sessions within the
Museum.
All activities are included in the standard admission to the Museum and, as usual, children go
free. No booking is required and all sessions are drop in.
IWM Duxford tours
IWM Duxford is offering a number of tours during the Easter holidays, enabling visitors to dig
deeper into the stories behind the exhibits on site.
The Land Warfare Hall Tour
Wednesday 7 April
11.00am
The Land Warfare Hall houses one of the finest collections of tanks, military vehicles and
artillery in the country.
Over the course of the twentieth century, the mechanisation of warfare has forever altered
the way battles are fought, won and lost. From the awesome artillery barrages of the First
World War, through the giant tank battles of the Second World War, to the high-speed
mechanised conflict of today, the Land Warfare Hall charts the nature of this change.
Explore the exhibits during this ninety minute tour and, as the group will not exceed 20
people, there will be plenty of opportunities for questions, debate and personal interaction.
Unseen Duxford – the North Side Tour
Saturday 10 April
11.00am
The north side of the Duxford site is not normally seen by the visitor. This tour gives an
opportunity to explore unseen parts of Duxford in the company of a museum guide.
See more of the historic buildings which are part of the Second World War fighter station
and find out more about their role during the war.
Book now for this ninety minute tour and, as the group will not exceed 20 people, there will
be plenty of opportunities for questions, debate and personal interaction.
The American Air Museum Tour
Saturday 10 April
2.00pm
The American Air Museum is a part of ImperialWar Museum Duxford and stands as a
memorial to the almost 30,000 US airmen who gave their lives while flying from British bases,
including Duxford, during the Second World War.
The Museum houses the largest collection of American warbirds on display outside the United
States, including a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, P-47
Thunderbolt, and aircraft from the Cold War era such as a B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71
Blackbird and F-4 Phantom, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.
Explore the exhibits during this ninety minute tour and, as the group will not exceed 20
people, there will be plenty of opportunities for questions, debate and personal interaction.
Tours are now bookable online and incur a small administration fee.
Lots to see and do at Imperial War Museum Duxford!
Set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside, atmospheric Duxford is a living, breathing
aviation museum. It is the best preserved Second World War Royal Air Force airfield in the
world.
Its award-winning exhibitions take you on an unforgettable journey through aviation from the
earliest flights to present-day jets, all part of a rich and unique collection.
Whatever your interest, there is something at Duxford to inspire you, be it the Blackbird –
the highest-flying aircraft ever – or the legendary Spitfire. Step back in time by peering into
General Montgomery’s famous campaign caravan or peeping through the windows of our fully
furnished 1940s prefab house.
These fascinating exhibits are brought vividly to life through the stories of the many men and
women who contributed towards Duxford’s history and the transformation of aviation.
Hangar 3 houses a superb maritime collection, while the LandWarfare Hall shows a
comprehensive collection of tanks, military vehicles and artillery.
Step back to the days of the Blitz in Hangar 4, where the sights and sounds of the Battle of
Britain enable you to fully experience Britain’s ‘finest hour’. In the restored Operations
Room, still tucked behind its original blast-walls, listen to a recreation of an air raid on
Duxford in 1940.
The American Air Museum is built around one of the biggest aeroplanes that you will ever
see, the B-52 Stratofortress, an awe-inspiring presence at Duxford.
Equally stunning is our newest exhibition, AirSpace, which tells the story of British and
Commonwealth aviation whilst surrounding you with 30 of the most iconic aircraft produced,
including the fastest-ever Concorde.
Duxford is HUGE and with over 10 acres undercover, it delivers a wonderful day out for all
the family, whatever the weather. Keep an eye on the sky, as you may well see some historic
aircraft in flight. With our fascinating range of hands-on activities, there is no better place to
be this Easter than Duxford, where your imagination can really take flight!
Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11. Ample
free parking is available. For a full list of Duxford’s air shows and other exciting events in
2010, including half term activities for families, visit www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or telephone
01223 835 000.
Easter opening times are 10.00am-6.00pm and children go FREE.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11. Ample
free parking is available. For a full list of Duxford’s air shows and other exciting events in
2010, including half term activities for families, visit www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or telephone
01223 835 000.
