DUXFORD AIR SHOW

The Battle Of Britain

2019-09-21

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This page is mostly just photos.

A Russian MIG of the Korean War Era taking off

When I was at Duxford Air Museum a few weeks ago I was told how great the Battle of Britain Air Show was going to be. This show is Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the film Battle of Britain, the flying display celebrated the role Duxford has played in making movie history.

I saw the list of planes that would be flying, including the Lancaster, and I decided I would go. It didn't look like it would be an exciting air show, there were no acrobatic teams and all the aircraft were vintage. The list of planes included types I have never seen before. Also some in numbers I have never seen before. I had to go if I could.

The day would include a Battle of Britain film scenario - which would recreate the airfield attack scene from the 1969 film Battle of Britain. And a Mass Spitfire Formation.

Planes that would be included were the Avro Lancaster, one of the most famous British Bombers. A ton of Spitfires, all with stories behind them, some of them famous. Some had been in the 1969 movie Battle of Britian or the 1977 movie A Bridge Too Far The plan was to have 16 in the air for the Mass Formation.

There were also a number of Hawker Hurricanes on hand to give a good show.

A Battle of Britain Memorial Flight included a Yakolev Yak 3 - A Second World War Soviet fighter developed from the Yak-1. as well as a Yakolev Yak 9 HB-RYA - The Yak 9 was a Soviet fighter during the Second World War.

Of course, for me, the star of any air show is the B-17G Flying Fortress, this one the Sally B which is The last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe, 'Sally B' is most famous On screen as the Memphis Belle in the 1990 film and still bares the famous nose art on one side. The other side was more popular with us middle aged guys though. And 15 year old boys. Not much difference betweeen us I guess.

There were a few P-51 Mustangs and at least two Hawker Fury aircraft.

For the jet setting crowd there was a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, a Polish-built SB Lim-2 (MiG-15UTI), produced by WSK-Mielec in 1952. This is a Korean War Era MIG

There was also a Canadair traning aircraft CT-133 Silver Star, representing American Korean War era Jets as it was the same as the The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star Trainer

Others included, P-47 Thunderbolt, Corsair, Grumman Wildcat, Westland Lysander plenty of WW-I bi-plane and tri-plane reproductions.

A Bristol Blenheim -> The only Bristol Blenheim flying in the world

To represent the Enemy aircraft, there were a few of Hispano Buchon which is a Spanish built, Rolls-Royce Merlin powered Messerschmitt Bf109 fighter, flown by the Spanish Air Force.

The whole list is here, but I don't know how long they will keep it there - https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/duxford-battle-of-britain-air-show-2019/flying-list

The only disappointment was that the Lancaster Bomber was a no-show due to technical difficulties. I would have loved to see that plane in the air.

The flights continued through the afternoon, with interesting commentary about the history of many of the planes. It was good to see so many of these planes flying, and more restorations in the process. Many of the planes in the show I had never seen. The Mass Spitfire Formation was incredible, although there were only 15, as one never made it off the runway.

Being that I was on a bike, I was special. Approaching the show, there was a ton of traffic, as can be expected. Wherever possible, traffic in both directions pulled over enough for even my rather wide bike to get through.

Bike Parking is right up front, near the flight line. Cars had to pre-book parking in the various lots, or come in by bus.

For me, the star of the show. Always.

Nose art from the movie, good for a PG Rating.

The other side was .... not exactly PG. I don't think Sally B was a Sophisticated Southern Belle

I had to muscle my way past a bunch of 15 year olds, and middle aged men, to get this photo.

North American and a Russian Korean War Era jets.

A Russian WW-II fighter

A Bristol Blenheim -> The only Bristol Blenheim flying in the world

This was one heck of an interesting engine configuration.

Those are not pistons, they are valve sleeves. The piston goes inside them, and as that shaft rotates, the sleeves go in and out and also rotate in the bore.

The sleeve in the bore (behind plexi-glass)

The bore, showing the intake and exhaust ports

Sleeve, piston, and assorted other parts.

The engine goes in the Hawker Typhoon.

A complete engine. Yes, two parallel rows of horizontal pistons.

From this point forward, I will mostly not mention what aircraft each of these are, as I know I will make an error, and some fanatic will never forgive me. Just as I wouldn't if someone mis-labeled a B-17

Two German Tri-Planes, and one British Tri-Plane

A B-17 with a Little Buddy - The crews of the B-17's and other big bombers were especially fond of the P-51 Mustang and other fighters and sometimes referred to them as their Little Buddies. When these fighters arrived, the bombers did not have to worry much about the Luftwaffe. Unfortunately, it was not until fairly late in the war that the fighters were given enough range to accompany the bombers well into German Territory.