 |
|||
|
 |
|
BritishIrish Touring Pricing & Information |
|
|||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies of Britain between July and
October 1940.
While the German armies consolidated their hold on Western Europe, and
Britain was still recovering from the retreat of Dunkirk, thirty-three squadrons
of Hurricanes and nineteen squadrons of Spitfires took on the might of the
German Luftwaffe.
The incredible skills, daring and courage of just three thousand and eighty Royal Air Force aircrew from throughout he British Empire who took part, ensured that Hitler’s projected invasion on Britain did not take place. This tour explores sites connected with this momentous time. We visit aviation museums, seeing the aircraft of the time, find crash wrecks, drink in the pubs used by the fighter pilots and gunners, see a range of memorials and tour the actual airfields used. The tour also visits other historical sights in the eastern counties of England of Kent, Essex and Lincolnshire and takes advantage of time in both these counties and London to look at the history of the Blitz, Hitler’s later attempt to subdue Britain from the skies.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (Monday)
We depart from central London at 08.30 and spend
this first day in the sectors controlled by the 12 (Fighter) group,
Duxford and Debden, part of the Hornchurch Sector.
Leaving London, we head northwards into Essex, driving past what remains of the Hornchurch airfield and the more active Stapleford Abbots airfield. Our first main visit today will be at the North Weald Airfield and airfield museum. There's much to see here including the Squadron, airfield museum and the airfield church. Later, we'll visit Blake Hall which housed the ops room for North Weald. Next, to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford that houses the finest collection of military aircraft and which was, of course, a USA airforce base in WW2. We'll also be visiting the mediaeval university city of Cambridge before turning north. Day 2 (Tuesday)
North of Cambridgeshire, in Digby and Wittering
Sectors, we can visit RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is
renowned as the 'Home of the Royal Air Force' and on the North Kesteven
Airfield trail there's much to rediscover. A particular highlight,
however, will be our visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
base at RAF Coningsby. The Flight operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires,
two Hurricanes and a Dakota. It is possible to view these still-flying
aircraft and watch the technicians at work.
Day 3 (Wednesday)
We make our way back to London. An undoubted
highlight of the day will be our visit to Bletchley. It was here
that the Germans 'uncrackable' Enigma Code was broken, allowing the
allies to read Axis wireless traffic. The house holds some fantastic
and fascinating exhibits.
Later, as we near London, we'll pass the Stanmore Fighter Command HQ, visit Hughenden Manor (war time arial map making and photo research centre) , and the Uxbridge Fighter Group HQ, in addition to seeing Northolt Airfield. A fitting, and memorable climax to our day, will be visiting the superb RAF memorial to the missing at Egham. From the top of this unique, and surprisingly little-known monument, you can see over five English counties. Dinner is not included tonight. Day 4 (Thursday)
The southern Hornchurch Sector of Kent is the
subject of today's explorations. We have three main visits - to the
Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge, to the memorial at Capel-le-Ferne
and to the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial at RAF Manston. There'll
be guided tours at each destination and the Manston houses fine examples
of a Spitfire TB752 and Hurricane LF751.
The Hornchurch Sector covered the county of Kent, over which many dogfights took place, and we'll be seeing some splendid scenery as we drive through and pinpointing some of the crash sites and the later V1 and V2 rocket targets (over 1400 of which fell on Kent). We'll also be seeing Dover and its famed 'white cliffs'. Dinner is not included tonight. Day 5 (Friday) - London Day
We first visit Westminster Abbey to view the
beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the pilots of Fighter
Command. Then to the RAF church of St Clement in the Danes. We'll
also visit Churchill's War Cabinet rooms and experience what it
was like sitting in a bomb shelter during the blitz in a fascinating
war museum. There will also be time for a visit to the Imperial
War Museum for those who wish it.
Note: Accommodation not included but you are dropped at any central London accommodation of your choice. We can arrange accommodation for those who would like us to do so.
Tour Include:
|
||||||||||||||
back to top© 2006 Holidays on Location - ABN 52 005 586 121 Australia
British & Irish Holidays™ is operated by Holidays on Location T/A Licence 30186