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Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial - Ramsgate (Great Britain) Kent Battle of Britain Museum - Folkestone (Great Britain) |
Important note Photos provided on this website are not an endorsement of any political idea or of war. War is one of the most regrettable human activities. All photos on this page are copyright Robert Mary and may only be reproduced with my express permission. You may contact me here |
Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Historical information The Museum was lucky to acquire one of the sites of Britain's epic struggle for survival in 1940, in what was the greatest air battle of all time. The airfield itself was the nearest Royal Air Force station to enemy-occupied France and only some ten minutes flying time away from the Luftwaffe fighter airfields in the Pas-de-Calais, in addition to which the airfield and surrounding district was subjected to long range cross-Channel shelling from the German shore batteries stationed along the French coast. Not for nothing was the Folkestone area known as "Hellfire Corner". Despite the passing years today's visitor can still savour the atmosphere of the airfield's past with the landmarks and buildings that remain, acting as points of reference, whilst beyond can be seen the English Channel and the French coast. The Memorial Museum and this website are dedicated to the pilots and aircrew who gave so much to preserve freedom in the dark days of World War II. It is available for everyone who wishes to maintain the memory of their sacrifice. The Hurricane Memorial Museum Building was officially opened by Dame Vera Lynn on the 7th October, 1988 to house Hurricane LF751. The Building cost in excess of £100,000, being appreciably larger than the companion building and also provided an area for a sales counter. Both buildings are still unique to any RAF Station; a fact of which RAF Manston is justifiably proud. The official website stands here. Museum can be contacted here. Location information RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Trust The Memorial Museum Kent Battle of Britain Museum Historical information The museum is the oldest established and largest collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country. Situated on the historic airfield at Hawkinge, about 3 miles inland from Folkestone on the A260, the Museum's original 1940 buildings, some of which still bear the scars of war, contain the worlds largest collection of authentic Battle of Britain relics and related memorabilia. The Museum is the oldest established Battle of Britain Museum and has been open to the public since 1971, the majority of the exhibits having been recovered in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The official website stands here. Museum can be contacted here. Location information RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Trust The Memorial Museum Personal note The Memorial shows up two aircrafts and memorabilia, there is also a
small shop. Entrance is free. You have also access to the Allied Air
Force Garden just beside the Memorial. This also includes the photos
of the entrance of the Kent Battle of Britain museum in Folkestone
(entrance is 5 £), unfortunately photos
are strictly forbidden despite all my "legal" attempts (writing
to the director of the museum did not help), it's a museum that deserves
to be seen. |
Year
of visit: July 2009 |