One of my fondest memories was visiting there with my Polish Grandad when he was alive. He was a pilot and when Warsaw fell, escaped and came to the UK. He flew Lancaster's and Hallifax bombers and the very kind people at the musum arranged for him to sit in a Lancaster Cockpit. It was very very emotional and something I will never ever forget. Wonderful place. Thoughtful place.
I just saw this clip and now your message! I know you cannot thank you Grandad but I saw to you thank you for his services back then! My parents and uncles were in WWII My uncle was a Wellington bomber! My dad's brother was a navigator but sadly lost his life on his first raid! my mum died in 2019 aged 95! I once again say thank you to all the brave folks back then! fighting for our freedom we have today! R.I.P to all passed away then and later on in life!
Without hero’s like your Grandfather the UK may not have been so fortunate. The Polish Airmen are revered by anyone who has served or survived WW2. I was born in 1955 and learned of the history of people like your family from some of the people who were there. I feel that we still owe a debt of gratitude. All the best from Scotland. rab
@@stubbsy3413 No, she referred to the one with the yellow black and grey disruptive pattern paintwork and plainly said it was a Mosquito and she was right. A lot of what she was reading didn't specifically correspond with what the camera was capturing at that point in the video.
@@stubbsy3413 We must be watching different videos. She was reading from the keys to the aircraft on display and until she came to the Mosquito there was no coordination between what she was reading with what was in view of the camera. In fact it was a bloody awful video because a large part of the time there was no coordination between what we were seeing and what was being read out from the keys to the aircraft or was otherwise being said. Before she even said "Look at that one...", meaning the Mosquito, her husband had said about the Lancaster, "It's a Lancaster Mark ten".
Great tour of Duxford! It’s a massive site and grown so much over the years. It’s a shame Concorde is now a museum item. Always remember sitting in the take of lounge at Dulas Airport. Aircraft after aircraft taking off. When Concorde took off everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. Showing my age. Great day out thank you
Ray, Thank you for coming along with us! Wish we were experts in Aircraft because it seems like we missed some goodies by the comment. I looked up information about the Concorde it was a very fast and interesting aircraft. I understand why people love it! I'm sure the sound and it being the fastest ever passenger plane would make everyone stop and take note. Unfortunately, retired in 2003. Love learning about different things. I appreciate aircraft and the Duxford IWM for having such a wonderful collection to share with everyone. Thank you for the love and support! 🤍 Jess & family x
Watching you from France loved the video . My Grandmother whos now 103 was born in 1921 in Normandy was 23 at the time of the Normandy landings living in upper Normandy herd and saw on the night of the 5th of June Americans jumping from Dakotas. She saw everything as it was a full moon that nigh. My Grandmother just lived at home. She spoke English because the Germans had turned the road signs the wrong way or put false ones in. Or taken away all together. Its was 3am - 4am and as she knew the area. She remembers the Americans looking at their maps with special red lights in the darkness and she rode on the front of one of the jeeps to direct them to a cross roads. Before being told that's as far as she goes. She had a long walk back over fields still watching the next wave and the 3rd waves of American jumpers in the sky's. In the darkness she fell over left over boxes and crates but didn't see until day light that she walked through a field of gliders that had crash landed, Got home and told what she did she was told dont tell stories. Until she took out American candy and coffee and what we believe to be some K-rations and cigarettes luck-strike we still have the wrapping, She got them to autograph the packet. She thinks they where from the 82nd or the 115th . The next day the bombing really opened up she remembers seeing the grass and the ground rising from the shock-waves. The Americans managed to re-take the position after the Germans were moving south and taking last minute reprisals against the population no one was safe, Shooting people at the side of the road, Older people of the villages hid the younger ones in basements and in barns and gave them money so if they was discovered to then try and bribe the Germans to let them go. My Grandmother was lucky and came out from the hiding place to find no one around, No food as everything was cut off, The American red Cross gave out food parcels as they went through the villages under escort, As she spoke English she was soon quickly picked for an interpreter and employed by the Americans and went all the way to Berlin until liberation in 1945. Then worked for the Americans in the tracing service as refugees across Europe were released from the camps and displaced to help them relocate and find relatives.
Another place of interest nearby that is often overlooked is the American war cemetery just outside of Cambridge... well worth a visit to put things in perspective
Absolutely! It's a place every American visitor to the UK should make time to visit and understand the sacrifice of their young men. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,811 US war dead; a further 5,127 names are recorded on the Walls of the Missing.
Ahhh the most iconic British bomber, the Vulcan. To hear its roar was just something else. It was like the gates of hell had been opened. It's like nothing on earth before or since.
The one with the yellow underbelly you are laughing about WAS the most feared aircraft of WW2. The Mossy (Mosquito) AKA the woden wonder. It carried out almost every role that an aircraft could do in wartime on it's own, and was so fast, and accurate that it's pilots carried out some of the most daring raids in WW2 histroy, in fact possibly even until today, world histrory.
it also proved to all airforces that aircraft could be effective without tons of armour and gun turrets, paving the way for the modern fighters using jet engines
For me one of the most impressive things about the American Air Museum is the glass wall around it. There are over 6,000 aircraft silhouettes etched onto its surface to represent each American plane that was lost flying from the UK during WW2.
Great video you guys. The Mosquito, what a piece of kit that plane was. Made from wood by carpenters and fitted with two merlin engines. Sounded the dogs danglies.
Best, most versatile aircraft of WWII in my opinion, fast bomber, capable of flying at tree-top height, capable fighter with four .303 Bronwing machine guns and four 20mm cannons, great ground attack aircraft with 8 60 pound rockets, and even fitted with a 57 mm rapid fire cannon for sinking U boats. Even Goring, the head of the Luftwaffe, said he was sick with envy that Germany didn't have anything like it.
Fantastic, I'm so glad we did get it on video. Unfortunately, we're not aircraft experts but love them and appreciate them. We definitely love learning and exploring all the beautiful aircraft! Thank you for your time commenting and watching. 🤍 Jess x
The RAF Museum at Colindale in north London is also fantastic, with 4 or 5 hangars full of historic and more modern aircraft. The museum is free entry (pre-book a free ticket), but there is a charge for parking.
Colindale is the nearest Underground station. ,The museum is the RAF Museum, Hendon. Hendon aerodrome is no more and the land is now a huge residential area called Grahame Park
When I was a kid growing up in Snowdonia the RAF used to do low level flight training right over our village which being a kid I obviously loved, but they stopped after a while as there was a large town nearby so I think they started getting too many complaints. They do all their low level training these days in an area called The Mach Loop which is a series of valleys between Dolgellau and Machynlleth, a lot of people go down there to watch them train as you can climb the hillside and watch the planes pass below you which is incredible to see, there's loads of videos on UA-cam but I'd highly recommend going there as it's literally mind-blowing watching the aircraft pass by and all the top pilots from the RAF, US Airforce and Commonwealth countries train there, so you see a huge variety of aircraft.
I really enjoyed your visit to the war museum, now almost seventy, I spent my last twenty four years of working life making components for the Martin -Baker ejector seat mainly for American military aircraft. Around 2005/2007 I received a polo shirt commemorating 7000 successful ejections. The seats are still a successful life saving unit and long may it continue to save the brave pilots in the future. Makes me proud to know that I have played a small part in protecting lives.
I last went here 17 years ago. It is even more impressive. I love the foresight of saving wrecked vehicles from the battlefield for posterity. My mum and dad met when they were both serving in the RAF in the war and now my grandson has joined the air cadets. He was on parade on Remembrance Sunday and his gun was nearly as long as him!
Patrick, I agree it was so incredible to see it all in one place. Was truly breathtaking. We definitely feel like we need to return. Love that your parents meet in the RAF such a lovely story! Please tell your grandson thank you for his service from our family! What an honor it is to see someone you love service your country. I'm always so proud of my family who have serviced. Thank you for sharing your love with us! 🤍 Jess & family x
Back in the 1960’s I was about 12 years old and in the Sea Cadets .. I remember being in the Guard detail on Remembrance Day in Albert Square (Manchester) … my mate was in the army cadets and his dad was Regimental Sargent Major on the day giving out all the parade orders … Ahhhh Memories
I used to be a Restoration volunteer at Newark Air Museum, if you’re ever in that neck of the woods is a great little museum that’s well worth a visit - it specialises in Cold War stuff but there’s some unusual bits and pieces there too.
Vaudevillian, Fantastic, recommendation! We will definitely check to see if we can make a trip. We really appreciate it! Im sure working there was quite nice getting to see and learn. 🤍 Jess x
Yes you went to Duxford! I'm well pleased.😊 I could bore you for days about all the aircraft on display so I won't as my fingers will wear out. Glad you enjoyed your day out and glad you posted your vlog as I enjoyed it immensely. Paul
I was there a few years ago, and a month later I was talking to one of the curators and I remarked about the cloth from The Wright Flyer which was almost hidden and they remarked there was nowhere else they could have it on display and preserve it from sunlight. I hope wherever it is now it is seen and appreciated as so many people walked past without even noticing it was there
I haven't been there, since it opened. When it was still an airfield and was just getting started, I went there with my father. He brought a WW2 engine from a crashed plane there for the display. It had been dug out of a peat pit and wasn't in good condition back then. He flew Sunderlands (enginerr/technician) with Coastal Command after the war. We used to visit the Hendon Air Museum, when I was a kid.
The M11 Motorway was due to be built across one end of Duxford’s single runway thus shortening it. However they had to wait until the prototype Concorde flew in as Concorde needed the longer runway length. As soon as Concorde had landed, the Contractor’s machines moved in to start work.
That mean looking bomber under the Mosquito is the Avro Lancaster. It had the biggest bomb capacity of any bomber in ww2 until the B-29 arrived near the end. It dropped the largest non-nuclear bombs of the war (The 12,000lb Tallboy bomb and the 22,000lb Grand Slam bomb), and was versatile enough to modify it to any need the RAF had, they even fitted it with a bomb that bounced across water like a skipping stone so that it could attack German dams
@@dannymiester5825 In Manchester - or at Woodford? My grandfather was a toolmaker at Austin Motors, Longbridge. They turned out first Short Stirlings, then Lancs. 7 days a week, on 12 hour shifts, until the end of the war. It was total war...
@stevet7695 ...the Mossy was my first airfix model...the TSR-2 was way ahead of its time but didn't really know it and apparently for some reason they destroyed the blue prints to it...if I had to choose one plane it would have to be the Harrier, it's quirky, unique and full of British character and innovation...so many great British planes , the lightening is another, all the V bombers , the Comet, Lancaster, even the P-51 Mustang which is essentially a British designed aircraft built by the Americans for us during WW2...
Before retirement, eight years ago the company I drove for rented matting to IWM Duxford and it was my job once a week to go around the site changing the mats at various locations, you walked over two at the entrance to the first building you entered.
Glad you guys enjoyed your visit to Duxford. I've not been there for maybe 20 years, it's one of the best museums in the UK. I treated myself and my late father to a flight in a 1930's biplane from Duxford, the American hangar is excellent, with many aircraft that us Brits would never get to see (SR-71 Blackbird, B-29 Superfortress etc).
We've been here many many times, it's a very good museum. You'd need more than a day to see everything. Another place to visit is the American Cemetery at nearby Madingley .
Hi de hi you two, that was a nice day out for you, I have been there a long time ago, great to see all those aircraft again, three cheers to you oo thanks
Hiya Jess, Chris Colette and Shane, oh how my eyes lit up when I saw where you were 😊. It's been a long time since I last visited and being an aviation enthusiast I watched in awe at how the exhibits were displayed. My favourite U.S aircraft are the A-10 Thunderbolt, that nose cannon is incredible and the swingwing F-111 from RAF Upper Heyford ( U.H. ). Thank you so much my friends for making this plane spotter very. happy . A truly wonderful experience. Take care and have a lovely Thursday. ✈️❤️xx
Stephen, We are so glad this video lit up your eyes! The exhibits were very well put together. Love the planes flying over head as we walked from building to building. We spent over 2 hours there, and we still feel like we possibly need to make a return trip to see what we missed. I have to say aircraft are so fascinating. I have so much respect for pilots and all aviation crew! The A-10s are some very unique and exciting aircraft! I will look up the F-111. I'm so happy we could put a smile on your face. We hope you have a lovely day! 🤍 Jess & family x
@@DaydreamersBarn Hiya Jess and Chris, seeing the B-17 on display I just wondered if you have ever seen the film "Memphis Belle" about a USAF crew based in Eastern England during the second world war. I think you might like it my friends. xx ♥
the huge white plane was in fact the Sunderland Flying Boat, that took-off and landed on open water. my father flew the mk5 Short Sunderland out in the Indian Ocean between 1945 and 1947. he was based in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) at Koggala Lake. - a beautiful aircraft
I have two abiding memories of my trip to Duxford. One was touching the SR-71, a plane that could fly to altitudes above 80,000ft!The second was the size of the "Counting the Cost" memorial down the side of the USA building. Very sobering.
Hi Jess / Chris Duxford is iconic for our war history. Did you actually know that the Concorde there is the very first ever Concorde prototype ever built? When you actually get underneath the Lancaster bomber it just shows how big it really is too. Did you guys actually notice the Memorial to 9/11 in the start of the American section? The piece of twisted metal and concrete there was actually taken from the twin towers site and brought here to the UK to honour all the people that died in the USA of all nationalities that day after the the towers fell I love Duxford museum it's a wonderful place to go if your into war history you read need to check out Stow Marie's WW1 Aerodrome in Essex it is the worlds only fully complete WW1 Aerodrome left in existence and you really feel the history there too. Stow Marie's was only found around ten yrs ago after it was left to sleep in 1918 after world war one and only came to light after the farmer died. But it was land that was requisitioned from the farm in 1914 for a Aerodrome to defend London on WW1. It was set up by the Royal Flying Corps. So it was built before the RAF was even in existence
G-AXDN at Duxford was actually the third Concorde. It was a pre-production prototype. The first was one of two prototypes, F-WTSS now at Le Bouget Airport the second, G-BSST, is at Yeovilton.
Lots of love here for the Mossie. It's well deserved. When l was growing up the two best days of the year were Christmas and whenever "633 Squadron" was on TV!
If you haven't been there yet, I would check out Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. It's just west of Cambridge on the Madingley Road (CB23 7PH).
I would agree with you,the remembrance service is on the Spring bank holiday May 26th 2025 ,if you are still in the UK i can really recommend you visit.
We visited one on the 8 Nov and watched a Remembrance day held in London one of our friends was in the parade. We will look into make that service. We really appreciate your kindness. 🤍 Jess x
@@DaydreamersBarn If you are in the greater London area places of possible interest, Cliveden House (former home of the Astors), Taplow nr Maidenhead; John F Kennedy memorial at Runnymede, nr Egham. Several things of interest nearby (Magna Carter, RAF memorial); Brookwood War Memorial (also American section) near Woking; Winston Churchill's (he's half American) home at Chartwell, Westerham, nr Sevenoaks.
@@DaydreamersBarn Madingley Cemetery is designated 'American soil' - resting there are US aircrew - including one of the Kennedy family - the pilot of a bomber packed with explosives which was supposed to fly straight into a target - Kamikaze-style (after the crew had bailed out, of course). Stupid idea. It exploded shortly after take-off
If you are interested in other special interest museums, I think you would enjoy the Haynes Motor Museum. It is in Yeovil. Its huge! Can spend all day there
@@DaydreamersBarn to add to that, about 5 miles from the Haynes Motor Museum is Fleet Air Arm Museum , which is the largest museum of its kind in the whole of Europe
I've never been to Duxford but I really like the way that they have the aircraft laid out. I bet that Short Sunderland flying boat and the Fairey Swordfish could tell a few stories. And that Lysander and Mosquito they have so many iconic aircraft.
A really lovely video. Having Chris as the resident expert was a bonus I am surprised that there is an entry fee. I thought that all IWM installations were free. However, it is well worth the money. Many thanks for taking us along with you.
Thank you, friend! It was fun having him explain things to us. He was in heaven. It was a hefty price for us all to get in, but well worth the money spent to get in. We loved and still feel we need to return. 🤍 Jess x
IWM London & IWM North are free. The others - Duxford, Cabinet War Rooms & HMS Belfast charge an entry fee. The two RAF Museums - Hendon & Cosford - are free.
I really enjoy all of your videos and this one brought back some happy memories of seeing the SR71 flying from Mildenhall in the late seventies. Officially it was never there but I often saw it taking off at dawn for the long flight to spy on Russia. One night in the Bell Hotel (a popular drinking hole for US airmen back then) I saw two airmen with SR71 patches and asked them if they were Blackbird pilots. One of them put on a very official sounding voice and said 'No sir, there are no Blackbirds in Mildenhall'. Then he winked!
I have been to Duxford twice this year as my 11-year-old grandson is mad about aircraft and could name all of them. Fortunately, it is around 30 minutes away from me. You walked past the twin towers memorial at 15:40, displaying a twisted girder from the site. Having recommended it I am relieved that you all enjoyed yourselves. They have air displays every year. When you see the size of these aircraft it is hard to believe that they could lift off the ground.
You guys should go to the imperial war museum London SE1 6HZ 😁😎 ps: they didn't assemble the jeeps they were carried in the gliders , if you have time check out the "Austin Champ" the UK version of jeep .
@RodgerMoore-m3r ...they were also assembled from crates dropped...plenty of videos on here showing they were also assembled after being dropped in crates 👍
When I was in North West Florida, I happened to come across the US National Air Museum in Pensacola, fantastic facilities and pure by chance. Four days later. I was back in Orlando where I saw the space shuttle launch at the end of September 1994 and as the Welshman and I kid you not one of the astronauts was Tom Jones. not the Tom Jones, but a Thomas Jones, pure serendipity and a wonderful experience?🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸👏
If you visit the UK you have to go to Duxford, this video only showed a fraction of what is there. Also, not far away is the Shuttleworth Collection, which are typically older planes. About an hour and a half away you have the RAFM museum at Cosford which is free to enter, however, you do have to pay £7.50 to park your car. These three are must a do if you like old military aviation.
Its massive, did you go in to the hangers between the museum buildings? There are loads more aircraft and you can see the restoration work. We live not far away (near the lavender farm you visited) and you have to go many times to cover it all. Nice video!
As ever, an excellent video from your lovely family. I'm one of the first men in my family to have not joined the RAF since its' inception after the 1st World War. I was a London teenager in the '60s, when hippy culture, "make love not war" etc. hit us full-on - so the RAF wasn't going to happen for me! Even now I find Duxford (and the Imperial War Museum) fascinating, yet sobering and depressing - a museum largely dedicated to the history of the ingenious ways we've found to kill each other.
That first, four engined flying boat was a Short Sunderland, known as The Flying Porcupine by the Germans. They were used a lot for anti-submarine duties. The dark biplane near it with the tail gun position was a Fairey Swordfish or 'Stringbag' used for carrier operations and the high wing monoplane hanging from the roof was a Westland Lysander, a slow-flying spy dropper.
That was totally absorbing ; the variety of aircraft ; different designs, shapes and sizes and how they managed to place them all in clear view is very impressive. The ongoing maintenance will require special skills, and I'm thinking that engineers will give their time free for the opportunity to 'get close' and intimate. I'm ashamed to admit that although I'd heard of Duxford I hadn't imagined such a huge and significant site. Brilliant, and thanks for the 'awakening'. Cheers ! Sheffield South Yorkshire.
That Lightning in the first section is the actual one that a ground engineer accidentally took off in. He'd been tasked with doing a ground run to try and trouble shoot a problem and accidentally got the engines stuck in afterburner / reheat. Hurtling across the airfield there was nothing left to do but to take off and take it round the circuit to land. Luckily in those days the RAF gave its engineers some basic flying training so he had the knowledge to safely complete his flight. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden%27s_Lightning_flight
For anyone who's confused, that is NOT the Imperial War Museum. IWM Duxford is a secondary site with aviation exhibits. The actual IWM is at Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ.
All of the IWM's are brilliant : Duxford and Hendon have pretty much every aircraft of significance from WW1/WW2 and beyond.The main IWM in Lambeth is beyond expectations....especially the Victoria Cross Hall....acts of unimaginable bravery....Glad our American cousins enjoyed the trip....next time take some time to read the details on the non US aircraft 😀!. The Mosquito and Spitfire were unique, superb planes and were two of WW2's most feared aircraft😀
I love going to Duxford but ive not been for at least a decade. I love the A10 and the SR71 the buff just looks to big to stay aloft. I only live 40 mins north so maybe ill go again one day. The Buff was based 20 mins north i believe at Alconbury which is now housing. Theres just east of Duxford are the Lakenheath/Mildenhall fighter bases and 10 mins north of me was where the legendary Harriers were based. As a kid i loved seeing them in the sky. Have a great time during your visit best of wishes Duncan
The Biplane landing is a de Havilland Dragon Rapide from the 1930's they offer flights on it, I was lucky to be one taking a low level tour over London. Glad you enjoyed the day, worth keeping a watch on the airfield as they are usually taking up warbirds for test flights all the time.
Hi,just wanted to say welcome to the UK 🇬🇧 and welcome to the part of the world where I grew up. I’m from Sawston,which is a very small village ( or it was ) away from Duxford. My Mum was Born and Raised in Sawston during WW2 and her and her family were encouraged to ' Adopt a American ' by the Government at the time,to help the American service members get acclimatised to England and it’s ways,they actually formed a lifetime of friendship with lasted well after the War. I have a picture somewhere of my Mum,Ralph and her little Brother somewhere. Sawston and the surrounding areas had special relationship with a few different nationalities,if you go to a local church in Whittlesford there are some Graves there of Polish Airmen and the Graves are very well tended,then we have the American Cemetery in Madingly but all around the area you will find Memorials ( at old Airfields ) dedicated to the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice. My Dad’s Dad was in the Airborne during WW2 and my Mums Dad was a Air raid warden,his Dad was in the Tank Regiment in WW2,my father was in the RAF and based at Basingbourne ,where he met my Mum ( Dad was originally from South Shields). I grew up listening to the song of the Merlin’s and the history of Duxford,I played in the Gun pits before it became the IMW,my Father was a volunteer at Duxford in the 60’s when they made the ' Battle of Britain ' Movie and he lost his Tools when the Hangar was blown up by the Film company ( everyone thought it was going to be a small explosion ). I learnt to drive on the Runway and had a Motorised Go cart ( built by Dad ) that we would take to Duxford on the roof of his car in the late 70’s. Lots of people settled in Sawston and including a Polish Pilot Mr.Vindis who was awarded the DSC and Bar and we had quite a few Polish neighbours and there was even a German ex POW who settled in Whittlesford. Growing up I would enjoy thoroughly going to Mildenhall and Lakenheath for the Airshows and Loved the atmosphere of the Barbecue and Buds that were handed out. We the English people are forever thankful to the American services for their support of the UK ,then and now and we are especially grateful to those who ended up giving the ultimate sacrifice ❤❤.
Sopwith Camel from WW1 1917 and the beginnings of flight. Wow. I love it all. Such history and adventure.❤ That Airco is in amazing shape to be 104+ years old. Just thing..once it was just 1 year old. Wish I could go there. Beautiful airplanes.
It's a great museum,have been many times, if you ever find yourselves in Palm Springs I would definitely visit their aircraft museum, we visited by chance whilst on a road trip and had a great day.
Duxford is amazing, indeed. Great to see the current line-up in your video. Its several decades since I visited Duxford, sadly, so it is really interesting to see the current displays. I last went just after the superb US collection was first opened. Even then, I was just blown away. Most of all, when I saw, from a distance, a TSR-2 in the then-line up on the apron in front of the main hanger. I could not believe it. If you are a fan of UK military aviation, you know. You walked past it in the main hanger - which contains a good number of British world-beating designs - at around 6:30. Its cancellation - like Canada's Avro Arrow - remains highly-controversial to this day. Yes, the Sunderland flying boat is amazing. The U-boats had a different view, and the Luftwaffe called it "The Flying Porcupine". That Spitfire is a Mk24 - the final production version, and SO much faster and capable and more advanced than the Battle of Britain early versions. Its just amazing, how this superb design was able to be developed and developed. That BUFF dominates the brilliant US hanger! Other than first seeing the TSR-2 at Duxford, the only other aircraft I ever saw that came close to making such an impression on me was the similar B52 at Ellsworth AFB, SD. Part of another superb collection. You really have to get up close to one of these, to realise just how big it is? Indeed, all that visit to Ellsworth made a HUGE impression, since it included a tour to see the (now-decommissioned) Minuteman missile silos. On a grey, eerie afternoon in the massive big-sky country, after having been to see the hugely-atmospheric Little Bighorn Battlefield that morning. Don't let anyone say the US is short on history, and atmosphere from the past. Just more recent!
Adrian, I do agree with you that it was massive and so well put together and so much to see and explore. We're so glad you enjoyed the video and seeing the line-up. We spent over 2 hours there. We felt like we needed to return to see even more. We didn't know that about the Canadian part being possibly controversial. The Buff is my all-time favorite, as I have mentioned many times. It's so incredible to see them take off and land. We loved the smell of coffee as we walked into the American Air Museum! This will be a stop we will recommend to others to pay a visit. We're so glad you could come along with us and enjoyed spending the time with us. 🤍 Jess & Family x
The F117 nighthawk was the 1st "stealth" aircraft, There were Spy Planes before, but there weren't "Hidden". The U2 was a ultra high altitude plane that flew on the border of space it took the invention of SAM to make this plane redundant. The SR71 still holds the speed records for a jet engined craft and it was able to out run the missiles. Both of these were traceable on radar, it's just little could be done to stop them doing their missions.
The Spitfire and Lancaster are two of the most iconic and revered machines of all time. If you attend an airshow in the UK, the crowd goes absolutely silent when they fly over. While they are both astonishing machines, the Spitfire is regarded as the plane that saved the UK from invasion and losing the war, while the Lancaster was the plane that allowed the UK to hit back. You should check out the "Battle of Britain" - and perhaps the Blitz, to understand how badly the country was being besieged. The Spitfire actually flew alongside another plane, the Hurricane, but the Spitfire is more of an icon. While the RAF fought the Battle of Britain alone (the US was years away from joining the war in Europe) seven US pilots actually flew with the RAF, having travelled to the UK and volunteered - some of whom pretended to be Canadian, to avoid being prosecuted in the States for breaking neutrality laws. Many or the planes flown in the Battle of Britain were from either Commonwealth countries or Europeans who had escaped when the. Germans invaded their own countries. It was at the end of the Battle of Britain the Churchill gave on of his most iconic speeches, stating that "Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many, to so few". There are numerous UA-cam videos on the battle, and there is also a big budget movie "The Battle of Britain" which went to some lengths to make a very historically accurate account of it.
The Aircraft you said looks so mean is the Avro Lancaster bomber, my grandma helped to build Lancasters at the AVRO factory in world war 2. Rip Grandma, proud grandson
Hi family , my brother was in the parachute regiment I'm wondering which aircraft he would have parachuted from , he served in bosnia and Iraq and a bit in Northern Ireland . I love a good museum so thank you for taking us with you 😊❤
Last went there in 2017 and can see all the same aircraft but some have been moved around. Probably will go again next year as I'm only 2 hours away. Another amazing museum to visit is Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset will go back there again someday. Living im Norwich I pass a Avro Vulcan and an English Electric lightening everyday as I pass the Norwich Aviation Museum.
Duxford is such an amazing museum, it's just up the road from me, so I've visited on multiple occasions and see something different each time. Looks like you had a fantastic time. 😁
They've moved things around a bit in the American part since I was there last. I hope you had time to look in the three other hangars and the open buildings behind, such as the plotting map room.
2 Hours is not enough to go round the entire site. I went a few weeks back was there for 5 hours taking it all in. There are so many side hangars with more WW2 aircraft. In one of those hangars is the B-17 - Memphis Belle / Sally B which is still airworthy.
Duxford is like my 2nd home.. been there more times than I can count 😄 Last time I was there was for the Spitfire experience where I got to sit in the cockpit.. the guys also let me sit in the cockpit of Hurricane BE505.. Anyhoo.. awesome museum 😁👍🏼
Welcome to the U.K ,Watched this because , my Father served in the R.AF in the 50"s , He also worked on Concored , and this is one place we never got to see before he died in 2022 , enjoy you"re stay , hope you all have a lovely time x
Another place near here is RAF Thorpe Abbotts. Its about an hours drive away from Duxford (to the East). Its about 4 miles from my house and its the air base where the Masters of the Air unit flew from. Its not a huge place but if you loved the show then its worth a visit.
Did you see the glass memorial to the 30,000 US airmen killed and 7,000 US planes lost in the Second World War while operating from the UK? Seeing the silhouette of so many aircraft engraved on the glass panel brings home the scale of the sacrifice.
Did gou visit the smaller hangars that have a lot of the WW2 aircraft? Lots of Spitfires in there and most of them are flying examples. Also hurricanes, at least 1 P51 and some others. On my last visit I flew in the Hurricane and my dad in the Spitfire. So much fun!!
The Mosquito was a fabulous aircraft. When metal was in short supply, the idea was born of a largely wooden framed aircraft. This could be built using largely idle factories and skilled carpenters used to producing furniture. The plane was fast, as it was light, and could stand quite a lot of damage because of its design. It was originally designed as a bomber, but was adapted to many roles including as a fast fighter.....
Lovely, thank you for taking the time to share with us. We really love learning from you all. It is so cool reading all the information and facts. 🤍 Jess x
The Mosquito! Possibly the first stealth aeroplane, because it was mostly wooden so it did not show up on RADAR. And was that a Hawker Harrier? Really scary craft, VTOL totally SciFi! And that Spitfire, one of the most beautiful aircraft ever. They sound good too. Nice of you to take us with you. Bye!
The first plane mentioned was the Harrier, which the US bought and became the (McDonnel Douglas) AV8B...When the UK decided to scrap their fleet of Harriers, the aircraft and spares were sold to the US for spare parts/refurbishment!
Been to Duxford many times both for museum and air shows. The flat tracked vehicle 13:18 is a German WWII remote-controlled demolition vehicle, named 'Goliath'. It was controlled usually by a wire or remote and was often used to drive under tanks. It wasn't very successful as the Russians shot and broke the wire. You know when an aircraft is huge when it has wheels under the wingtips, B-52.
@@DaydreamersBarnusually you can go on board it at Duxford but I think they close it off at winter for maintenance. It’s the only B-17 currently left flying in Europe so I feel it’s important to keep it flying from what was a USAAF 8th Air Force airfield during WW2 (albeit a Fighter airfield but still). Did you see the Battle of Britain sector control room too?
One of my fondest memories was visiting there with my Polish Grandad when he was alive. He was a pilot and when Warsaw fell, escaped and came to the UK. He flew Lancaster's and Hallifax bombers and the very kind people at the musum arranged for him to sit in a Lancaster Cockpit. It was very very emotional and something I will never ever forget. Wonderful place. Thoughtful place.
Oh, I love this. Thank you for sharing with us. We truly appreciate you and am so glad this brought back lovely memories! 🤍 Jess x
I just saw this clip and now your message! I know you cannot thank you Grandad but I saw to you thank you for his services back then! My parents and uncles were in WWII My uncle was a Wellington bomber! My dad's brother was a navigator but sadly lost his life on his first raid! my mum died in 2019 aged 95! I once again say thank you to all the brave folks back then! fighting for our freedom we have today! R.I.P to all passed away then and later on in life!
Without hero’s like your Grandfather the UK may not have been so fortunate. The Polish Airmen are revered by anyone who has served or survived WW2. I was born in 1955 and learned of the history of people like your family from some of the people who were there. I feel that we still owe a debt of gratitude. All the best from Scotland. rab
You walked passed two of the most beautiful aircraft ever built Concorde and the Vulcan bomber without a comment😮
Yeah and said the Lancaster was a Mosquito and the Abrams is a Challenger 1
@@stubbsy3413
No, she referred to the one with the yellow black and grey disruptive pattern paintwork and plainly said it was a Mosquito and she was right.
A lot of what she was reading didn't specifically correspond with what the camera was capturing at that point in the video.
@@stubbsy3413
We must be watching different videos.
She was reading from the keys to the aircraft on display and until she came to the Mosquito there was no coordination between what she was reading with what was in view of the camera.
In fact it was a bloody awful video because a large part of the time there was no coordination between what we were seeing and what was being read out from the keys to the aircraft or was otherwise being said.
Before she even said "Look at that one...", meaning the Mosquito, her husband had said about the Lancaster, "It's a Lancaster Mark ten".
Yeah no mention of the fastest and most beautiful aircraft ever made….CONCORDE.
@@kramshiron SR71 Hold my Jetfuel.
Great tour of Duxford! It’s a massive site and grown so much over the years. It’s a shame Concorde is now a museum item. Always remember sitting in the take of lounge at Dulas Airport. Aircraft after aircraft taking off. When Concorde took off everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. Showing my age. Great day out thank you
Ray,
Thank you for coming along with us! Wish we were experts in Aircraft because it seems like we missed some goodies by the comment. I looked up information about the Concorde it was a very fast and interesting aircraft. I understand why people love it! I'm sure the sound and it being the fastest ever passenger plane would make everyone stop and take note. Unfortunately, retired in 2003. Love learning about different things. I appreciate aircraft and the Duxford IWM for having such a wonderful collection to share with everyone. Thank you for the love and support! 🤍 Jess & family x
Watching you from France loved the video . My Grandmother whos now 103 was born in 1921 in Normandy was 23 at the time of the Normandy landings living in upper Normandy herd and saw on the night of the 5th of June Americans jumping from Dakotas. She saw everything as it was a full moon that nigh. My Grandmother just lived at home. She spoke English because the Germans had turned the road signs the wrong way or put false ones in. Or taken away all together. Its was 3am - 4am and as she knew the area. She remembers the Americans looking at their maps with special red lights in the darkness and she rode on the front of one of the jeeps to direct them to a cross roads. Before being told that's as far as she goes. She had a long walk back over fields still watching the next wave and the 3rd waves of American jumpers in the sky's. In the darkness she fell over left over boxes and crates but didn't see until day light that she walked through a field of gliders that had crash landed, Got home and told what she did she was told dont tell stories. Until she took out American candy and coffee and what we believe to be some K-rations and cigarettes luck-strike we still have the wrapping, She got them to autograph the packet. She thinks they where from the 82nd or the 115th . The next day the bombing really opened up she remembers seeing the grass and the ground rising from the shock-waves. The Americans managed to re-take the position after the Germans were moving south and taking last minute reprisals against the population no one was safe, Shooting people at the side of the road, Older people of the villages hid the younger ones in basements and in barns and gave them money so if they was discovered to then try and bribe the Germans to let them go. My Grandmother was lucky and came out from the hiding place to find no one around, No food as everything was cut off, The American red Cross gave out food parcels as they went through the villages under escort, As she spoke English she was soon quickly picked for an interpreter and employed by the Americans and went all the way to Berlin until liberation in 1945. Then worked for the Americans in the tracing service as refugees across Europe were released from the camps and displaced to help them relocate and find relatives.
Your Grandmother was a Hero 🙏
A remarkable story !
That's a fascinating piece of real life history, thankyou.
Another place of interest nearby that is often overlooked is the American war cemetery just outside of Cambridge... well worth a visit to put things in perspective
Absolutely! It's a place every American visitor to the UK should make time to visit and understand the sacrifice of their young men. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,811 US war dead; a further 5,127 names are recorded on the Walls of the Missing.
They went there last week
Heading west on the A14 toward Bar Hill
Very moving to visit - all those airmen (mainly I think) who rest in a country far from home having defended it from tyranny.
My wife and I from Northern Ireland visited the American war cemetery Camborne outside Cambridge, which is a very moving experience.
Ahhh the most iconic British bomber, the Vulcan. To hear its roar was just something else. It was like the gates of hell had been opened. It's like nothing on earth before or since.
Especially if you lived in Lincoln in the 70s
The one with the yellow underbelly you are laughing about WAS the most feared aircraft of WW2. The Mossy (Mosquito) AKA the woden wonder. It carried out almost every role that an aircraft could do in wartime on it's own, and was so fast, and accurate that it's pilots carried out some of the most daring raids in WW2 histroy, in fact possibly even until today, world histrory.
Miraculously, a Mosquito could carry the same bomb load as a B17 Flying Fortress.
it also proved to all airforces that aircraft could be effective without tons of armour and gun turrets, paving the way for the modern fighters using jet engines
@@daviddaw999err no it could carry the same as B25 mitchell same bomb load of 4000lb the B17 was about 13000lb or there abouts.
David Hines. Look the Mosquito is beautiful and was very effective, but to say it paved the way for modern jet fighters is mental.
Only when they were doing the Berlin run. 4,000lbs load.@@daviddaw999
For me one of the most impressive things about the American Air Museum is the glass wall around it. There are over 6,000 aircraft silhouettes etched onto its surface to represent each American plane that was lost flying from the UK during WW2.
Great video you guys. The Mosquito, what a piece of kit that plane was.
Made from wood by carpenters and fitted with two merlin engines. Sounded the dogs danglies.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I will look into it. Thank you for the information. 🤍 Jess x
Best, most versatile aircraft of WWII in my opinion, fast bomber, capable of flying at tree-top height, capable fighter with four .303 Bronwing machine guns and four 20mm cannons, great ground attack aircraft with 8 60 pound rockets, and even fitted with a 57 mm rapid fire cannon for sinking U boats. Even Goring, the head of the Luftwaffe, said he was sick with envy that Germany didn't have anything like it.
@@silgen they nearly did . The focke-wulf Ta154 moskito . The Germans basically tried to copy our homework
@silgen When 105 Squadron dropped in on Hermann Goering, addressing the Third Reich from the Air Ministry Building balcony. Pesky mossies.
@@neilwilliams2409 They did. They also interrupted Goebbels the same day.
06:35 The mighty Vulcan.
I worked on these for 2 years at RAF Scampton.
Duxford is just down the road from us too! 👍🏻
Fantastic, I'm so glad we did get it on video. Unfortunately, we're not aircraft experts but love them and appreciate them. We definitely love learning and exploring all the beautiful aircraft! Thank you for your time commenting and watching. 🤍 Jess x
The RAF Museum at Colindale in north London is also fantastic, with 4 or 5 hangars full of historic and more modern aircraft. The museum is free entry (pre-book a free ticket), but there is a charge for parking.
Colindale is the nearest Underground station. ,The museum is the RAF Museum, Hendon. Hendon aerodrome is no more and the land is now a huge residential area called Grahame Park
As an ex RAF armourer I've never been to Duxford.... but thanks to you, now I have.
This video only shows a fraction of what is at Duxford, and it doesn't really do it justice.
When I was a kid growing up in Snowdonia the RAF used to do low level flight training right over our village which being a kid I obviously loved, but they stopped after a while as there was a large town nearby so I think they started getting too many complaints. They do all their low level training these days in an area called The Mach Loop which is a series of valleys between Dolgellau and Machynlleth, a lot of people go down there to watch them train as you can climb the hillside and watch the planes pass below you which is incredible to see, there's loads of videos on UA-cam but I'd highly recommend going there as it's literally mind-blowing watching the aircraft pass by and all the top pilots from the RAF, US Airforce and Commonwealth countries train there, so you see a huge variety of aircraft.
I can't believe you walked straight past the TSR2! Look it up. :)
I really enjoyed your visit to the war museum, now almost seventy, I spent my last twenty four years of working life making components for the Martin -Baker ejector seat mainly for American military aircraft. Around 2005/2007 I received a polo shirt commemorating 7000 successful ejections. The seats are still a successful life saving unit and long may it continue to save the brave pilots in the future. Makes me proud to know that I have played a small part in protecting lives.
I last went here 17 years ago. It is even more impressive. I love the foresight of saving wrecked vehicles from the battlefield for posterity. My mum and dad met when they were both serving in the RAF in the war and now my grandson has joined the air cadets. He was on parade on Remembrance Sunday and his gun was nearly as long as him!
Patrick,
I agree it was so incredible to see it all in one place. Was truly breathtaking. We definitely feel like we need to return.
Love that your parents meet in the RAF such a lovely story! Please tell your grandson thank you for his service from our family! What an honor it is to see someone you love service your country. I'm always so proud of my family who have serviced.
Thank you for sharing your love with us! 🤍 Jess & family x
Bless your grandson for serving.
Back in the 1960’s I was about 12 years old and in the Sea Cadets .. I remember being in the Guard detail on Remembrance Day in Albert Square (Manchester) … my mate was in the army cadets and his dad was Regimental Sargent Major on the day giving out all the parade orders … Ahhhh Memories
I used to be a Restoration volunteer at Newark Air Museum, if you’re ever in that neck of the woods is a great little museum that’s well worth a visit - it specialises in Cold War stuff but there’s some unusual bits and pieces there too.
Vaudevillian,
Fantastic, recommendation! We will definitely check to see if we can make a trip. We really appreciate it! Im sure working there was quite nice getting to see and learn. 🤍 Jess x
I'm glad you had a great day and jess over came her arch enemy, 'The revolving door'... this time!
Haha, well, my family about had me freaking out. I don't like being closed in places. LoL
😂🫣
🤍 Jess x
Yes you went to Duxford! I'm well pleased.😊 I could bore you for days about all the aircraft on display so I won't as my fingers will wear out. Glad you enjoyed your day out and glad you posted your vlog as I enjoyed it immensely. Paul
I was there a few years ago, and a month later I was talking to one of the curators and I remarked about the cloth from The Wright Flyer which was almost hidden and they remarked there was nowhere else they could have it on display and preserve it from sunlight. I hope wherever it is now it is seen and appreciated as so many people walked past without even noticing it was there
I haven't been there, since it opened. When it was still an airfield and was just getting started, I went there with my father. He brought a WW2 engine from a crashed plane there for the display. It had been dug out of a peat pit and wasn't in good condition back then.
He flew Sunderlands (enginerr/technician) with Coastal Command after the war.
We used to visit the Hendon Air Museum, when I was a kid.
The M11 Motorway was due to be built across one end of Duxford’s single runway thus shortening it. However they had to wait until the prototype Concorde flew in as Concorde needed the longer runway length. As soon as Concorde had landed, the Contractor’s machines moved in to start work.
Similar thing with the Victor, my dad was on the crew that flew her in.
That's wonderful information. We really love learning from you all. We appreciate your comment! 🤍 Jess x
That mean looking bomber under the Mosquito is the Avro Lancaster. It had the biggest bomb capacity of any bomber in ww2 until the B-29 arrived near the end. It dropped the largest non-nuclear bombs of the war (The 12,000lb Tallboy bomb and the 22,000lb Grand Slam bomb), and was versatile enough to modify it to any need the RAF had, they even fitted it with a bomb that bounced across water like a skipping stone so that it could attack German dams
They also acted as a back up for the B-29s dropping the A-bombs.
My Grandma built Lancasters at the AVRO factory in Manchester during ww2, and also Ansons :) proud grandson
@@dannymiester5825 In Manchester - or at Woodford? My grandfather was a toolmaker at Austin Motors, Longbridge. They turned out first Short Stirlings, then Lancs. 7 days a week, on 12 hour shifts, until the end of the war.
It was total war...
@wessexdruid7598 Manchester, chadderton I think but not 100 % sure
@@dannymiester5825 Makes sense. There were a lot of aircraft factories in and around Manchester.
The spitfire is a masterpiece of engineering 👌
My 3 favourite British planes , the Spitfire, Harrier and Vulcan ...love hearing those engines on all 3 ...❤
I'm so glad we could show them in this one video! 🤍 Jess x
I'd agree with the first and third of your choices, but would add the Mossy and the TSR-2.
@stevet7695 ...the Mossy was my first airfix model...the TSR-2 was way ahead of its time but didn't really know it and apparently for some reason they destroyed the blue prints to it...if I had to choose one plane it would have to be the Harrier, it's quirky, unique and full of British character and innovation...so many great British planes , the lightening is another, all the V bombers , the Comet, Lancaster, even the P-51 Mustang which is essentially a British designed aircraft built by the Americans for us during WW2...
Good to see a different point of view, im there 4 or 5 times a year and take it for granted, reminds me to appreciate what we have
Great call going here. Duxford is very famous, probably the best of it's kind.
Thanks was highly recommended by all our wonderful friends on here. We love and appreciate you all for sharing your time with us. Thank you 🤍 Jess x
Before retirement, eight years ago the company I drove for rented matting to IWM Duxford and it was my job once a week to go around the site changing the mats at various locations, you walked over two at the entrance to the first building you entered.
Glad you guys enjoyed your visit to Duxford. I've not been there for maybe 20 years, it's one of the best museums in the UK. I treated myself and my late father to a flight in a 1930's biplane from Duxford, the American hangar is excellent, with many aircraft that us Brits would never get to see (SR-71 Blackbird, B-29 Superfortress etc).
The biplane, was it the two-seater Tiger Moth or the larger Dragon Rapide?
hope you went to the American Cemetery at Madingley.
Magnificent display of aircraft. The Concorde was a plane way ahead of its time, a real head turner! Great video.👍
Thank you for sharing with us. It was a lovely day exploring. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. 🤍 Jess x
Same with the incredible TSR2…..potentially a world beater had the project not been scrapped by the Labour government under Harold Wilson
We've been here many many times, it's a very good museum. You'd need more than a day to see everything. Another place to visit is the American Cemetery at nearby Madingley .
Hi de hi you two, that was a nice day out for you, I have been there a long time ago, great to see all those aircraft again, three cheers to you oo thanks
Hiya Jess, Chris Colette and Shane, oh how my eyes lit up when I saw where you were 😊.
It's been a long time since I last visited and being an aviation enthusiast I watched in awe at how the exhibits were displayed.
My favourite U.S aircraft are the A-10 Thunderbolt, that nose cannon is incredible and the swingwing F-111 from RAF Upper Heyford ( U.H. ).
Thank you so much my friends for making this plane spotter very.
happy . A truly wonderful experience.
Take care and have a lovely Thursday. ✈️❤️xx
Stephen,
We are so glad this video lit up your eyes! The exhibits were very well put together. Love the planes flying over head as we walked from building to building.
We spent over 2 hours there, and we still feel like we possibly need to make a return trip to see what we missed.
I have to say aircraft are so fascinating. I have so much respect for pilots and all aviation crew! The A-10s are some very unique and exciting aircraft! I will look up the F-111.
I'm so happy we could put a smile on your face. We hope you have a lovely day! 🤍 Jess & family x
@@DaydreamersBarn Hiya Jess and Chris, seeing the B-17 on display I just wondered if you have ever seen the film "Memphis Belle" about a USAF crew based in Eastern England during the second world war. I think you might like it my friends. xx ♥
the huge white plane was in fact the Sunderland Flying Boat, that took-off and landed on open water. my father flew the mk5 Short Sunderland out in the Indian Ocean between 1945 and 1947. he was based in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) at Koggala Lake. - a beautiful aircraft
One of the great things about museums is you visit expecting to gain some knowledge and yet when you leave you are left craving even more knowledge.
I totally agree, friend! 🤍 Jess x
I have two abiding memories of my trip to Duxford.
One was touching the SR-71, a plane that could fly to altitudes above 80,000ft!The second was the size of the "Counting the Cost" memorial down the side of the USA building. Very sobering.
Jess sporting the Clint Eastwood look 😊
The Good. The Bad And The Beautiful 😀
Haha, I love it, yall! 🤍 Jess x
Hi Jess / Chris Duxford is iconic for our war history. Did you actually know that the Concorde there is the very first ever Concorde prototype ever built? When you actually get underneath the Lancaster bomber it just shows how big it really is too. Did you guys actually notice the Memorial to 9/11 in the start of the American section? The piece of twisted metal and concrete there was actually taken from the twin towers site and brought here to the UK to honour all the people that died in the USA of all nationalities that day after the the towers fell
I love Duxford museum it's a wonderful place to go if your into war history you read need to check out Stow Marie's WW1 Aerodrome in Essex it is the worlds only fully complete WW1 Aerodrome left in existence and you really feel the history there too. Stow Marie's was only found around ten yrs ago after it was left to sleep in 1918 after world war one and only came to light after the farmer died. But it was land that was requisitioned from the farm in 1914 for a Aerodrome to defend London on WW1. It was set up by the Royal Flying Corps. So it was built before the RAF was even in existence
G-AXDN at Duxford was actually the third Concorde. It was a pre-production prototype.
The first was one of two prototypes, F-WTSS now at Le Bouget Airport the second, G-BSST, is at Yeovilton.
Lots of love here for the Mossie. It's well deserved. When l was growing up the two best days of the year were Christmas and whenever "633 Squadron" was on TV!
If you haven't been there yet, I would check out Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. It's just west of Cambridge on the Madingley Road (CB23 7PH).
I would agree with you,the remembrance service is on the Spring bank holiday May 26th 2025 ,if you are still in the UK i can really recommend you visit.
We visited one on the 8 Nov and watched a Remembrance day held in London one of our friends was in the parade. We will look into make that service. We really appreciate your kindness. 🤍 Jess x
@@DaydreamersBarn If you are in the greater London area places of possible interest, Cliveden House (former home of the Astors), Taplow nr Maidenhead; John F Kennedy memorial at Runnymede, nr Egham. Several things of interest nearby (Magna Carter, RAF memorial); Brookwood War Memorial (also American section) near Woking; Winston Churchill's (he's half American) home at Chartwell, Westerham, nr Sevenoaks.
@@DaydreamersBarn Madingley Cemetery is designated 'American soil' - resting there are US aircrew - including one of the Kennedy family - the pilot of a bomber packed with explosives which was supposed to fly straight into a target - Kamikaze-style (after the crew had bailed out, of course). Stupid idea. It exploded shortly after take-off
I love this place. My favourite is the B17. I'm a member of Sallyb Supporters Club and love watching her fly.
Chris Jess,Collete and Shane! Just 2 words "Totally Stunning"
And the museum was fantastic too!
Thank you, friend! 🤍 Jess x
If you are interested in other special interest museums, I think you would enjoy the Haynes Motor Museum. It is in Yeovil. Its huge! Can spend all day there
Lovely, thank ls for the recommendation! I am sharing the recommendation with Chris now. We really do appreciate it 🤍 Jess x
@@DaydreamersBarn to add to that, about 5 miles from the Haynes Motor Museum is Fleet Air Arm Museum , which is the largest museum of its kind in the whole of Europe
The tank museum at Bovington in Dorset is also a just see!
I've never been to Duxford but I really like the way that they have the aircraft laid out. I bet that Short Sunderland flying boat and the Fairey Swordfish could tell a few stories. And that Lysander and Mosquito they have so many iconic aircraft.
A really lovely video. Having Chris as the resident expert was a bonus I am surprised that there is an entry fee. I thought that all IWM installations were free. However, it is well worth the money. Many thanks for taking us along with you.
Thank you, friend! It was fun having him explain things to us. He was in heaven.
It was a hefty price for us all to get in, but well worth the money spent to get in. We loved and still feel we need to return. 🤍 Jess x
IWM London & IWM North are free. The others - Duxford, Cabinet War Rooms & HMS Belfast charge an entry fee.
The two RAF Museums - Hendon & Cosford - are free.
That first hanger is jam packed with bangers...
I really enjoy all of your videos and this one brought back some happy memories of seeing the SR71 flying from Mildenhall in the late seventies. Officially it was never there but I often saw it taking off at dawn for the long flight to spy on Russia. One night in the Bell Hotel (a popular drinking hole for US airmen back then) I saw two airmen with SR71 patches and asked them if they were Blackbird pilots. One of them put on a very official sounding voice and said 'No sir, there are no Blackbirds in Mildenhall'. Then he winked!
I have been to Duxford twice this year as my 11-year-old grandson is mad about aircraft and could name all of them. Fortunately, it is around 30 minutes away from me. You walked past the twin towers memorial at 15:40, displaying a twisted girder from the site. Having recommended it I am relieved that you all enjoyed yourselves. They have air displays every year. When you see the size of these aircraft it is hard to believe that they could lift off the ground.
Hi Laughed at your comment at 18.45m as I did hit my head on the B17 when I worked at Duxford as a visitor guide/security officer. Enjoyed your video.
You guys should go to the imperial war museum London SE1 6HZ 😁😎 ps: they didn't assemble the jeeps they were carried in the gliders , if you have time check out the "Austin Champ" the UK version of jeep .
@RodgerMoore-m3r ...they were also assembled from crates dropped...plenty of videos on here showing they were also assembled after being dropped in crates 👍
Thanks for the tour! Hope to make it there someday. I hope the food & the weather hasn't put you off returning 😂
When I was in North West Florida, I happened to come across the US National Air Museum in Pensacola, fantastic facilities and pure by chance. Four days later. I was back in Orlando where I saw the space shuttle launch at the end of September 1994 and as the Welshman and I kid you not one of the astronauts was Tom Jones. not the Tom Jones, but a Thomas Jones, pure serendipity and a wonderful experience?🇬🇧🏴🇺🇸👏
If you visit the UK you have to go to Duxford, this video only showed a fraction of what is there. Also, not far away is the Shuttleworth Collection, which are typically older planes. About an hour and a half away you have the RAFM museum at Cosford which is free to enter, however, you do have to pay £7.50 to park your car. These three are must a do if you like old military aviation.
Its massive, did you go in to the hangers between the museum buildings?
There are loads more aircraft and you can see the restoration work.
We live not far away (near the lavender farm you visited) and you have to go many times to cover it all.
Nice video!
As ever, an excellent video from your lovely family. I'm one of the first men in my family to have not joined the RAF since its' inception after the 1st World War. I was a London teenager in the '60s, when hippy culture, "make love not war" etc. hit us full-on - so the RAF wasn't going to happen for me!
Even now I find Duxford (and the Imperial War Museum) fascinating, yet sobering and depressing - a museum largely dedicated to the history of the ingenious ways we've found to kill each other.
Surprisingly when you look in to the IWM It's really very anti-war!!
Friend, I understand and appreciate your time sharing with us. We really wish we could all find peace. 🤍 Jess x
That first, four engined flying boat was a Short Sunderland, known as The Flying Porcupine by the Germans. They were used a lot for anti-submarine duties. The dark biplane near it with the tail gun position was a Fairey Swordfish or 'Stringbag' used for carrier operations and the high wing monoplane hanging from the roof was a Westland Lysander, a slow-flying spy dropper.
That was totally absorbing ; the variety of aircraft ; different designs, shapes and sizes and how they managed to place them all in clear view is very impressive. The ongoing maintenance will require special skills, and I'm thinking that engineers will give their time free for the opportunity to 'get close' and intimate. I'm ashamed to admit that although I'd heard of Duxford I hadn't imagined such a huge and significant site. Brilliant, and thanks for the 'awakening'. Cheers ! Sheffield South Yorkshire.
Thank you for another great video. I had also enjoyed my visit to Duxford a few years ago.
That Lightning in the first section is the actual one that a ground engineer accidentally took off in. He'd been tasked with doing a ground run to try and trouble shoot a problem and accidentally got the engines stuck in afterburner / reheat. Hurtling across the airfield there was nothing left to do but to take off and take it round the circuit to land. Luckily in those days the RAF gave its engineers some basic flying training so he had the knowledge to safely complete his flight.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden%27s_Lightning_flight
For anyone who's confused, that is NOT the Imperial War Museum. IWM Duxford is a secondary site with aviation exhibits. The actual IWM is at Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ.
@@thisismossop ..and at Trafford Park, Manchester!
We also want to check out the one in London! IWM Duxford is a branch of the IWM.. 😉 🤍 Jess x
All of the IWM's are brilliant : Duxford and Hendon have pretty much every aircraft of significance from WW1/WW2 and beyond.The main IWM in Lambeth is beyond expectations....especially the Victoria Cross Hall....acts of unimaginable bravery....Glad our American cousins enjoyed the trip....next time take some time to read the details on the non US aircraft 😀!. The Mosquito and Spitfire were unique, superb planes and were two of WW2's most feared aircraft😀
I love going to Duxford but ive not been for at least a decade. I love the A10 and the SR71 the buff just looks to big to stay aloft. I only live 40 mins north so maybe ill go again one day. The Buff was based 20 mins north i believe at Alconbury which is now housing. Theres just east of Duxford are the Lakenheath/Mildenhall fighter bases and 10 mins north of me was where the legendary Harriers were based. As a kid i loved seeing them in the sky. Have a great time during your visit best of wishes Duncan
The Biplane landing is a de Havilland Dragon Rapide from the 1930's they offer flights on it, I was lucky to be one taking a low level tour over London. Glad you enjoyed the day, worth keeping a watch on the airfield as they are usually taking up warbirds for test flights all the time.
Hi,just wanted to say welcome to the UK 🇬🇧 and welcome to the part of the world where I grew up.
I’m from Sawston,which is a very small village ( or it was ) away from Duxford.
My Mum was Born and Raised in Sawston during WW2 and her and her family were encouraged to ' Adopt a American ' by the Government at the time,to help the American service members get acclimatised to England and it’s ways,they actually formed a lifetime of friendship with lasted well after the War.
I have a picture somewhere of my Mum,Ralph and her little Brother somewhere.
Sawston and the surrounding areas had special relationship with a few different nationalities,if you go to a local church in Whittlesford there are some Graves there of Polish Airmen and the Graves are very well tended,then we have the American Cemetery in Madingly but all around the area you will find Memorials ( at old Airfields ) dedicated to the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
My Dad’s Dad was in the Airborne during WW2 and my Mums Dad was a Air raid warden,his Dad was in the Tank Regiment in WW2,my father was in the RAF and based at Basingbourne ,where he met my Mum ( Dad was originally from South Shields).
I grew up listening to the song of the Merlin’s and the history of Duxford,I played in the Gun pits before it became the IMW,my Father was a volunteer at Duxford in the 60’s when they made the ' Battle of Britain ' Movie and he lost his Tools when the Hangar was blown up by the Film company ( everyone thought it was going to be a small explosion ).
I learnt to drive on the Runway and had a Motorised Go cart ( built by Dad ) that we would take to Duxford on the roof of his car in the late 70’s.
Lots of people settled in Sawston and including a Polish Pilot Mr.Vindis who was awarded the DSC and Bar and we had quite a few Polish neighbours and there was even a German ex POW who settled in Whittlesford.
Growing up I would enjoy thoroughly going to Mildenhall and Lakenheath for the Airshows and Loved the atmosphere of the Barbecue and Buds that were handed out.
We the English people are forever thankful to the American services for their support of the UK ,then and now and we are especially grateful to those who ended up giving the ultimate sacrifice ❤❤.
Sopwith Camel from WW1 1917 and the beginnings of flight. Wow. I love it all. Such history and adventure.❤ That Airco is in amazing shape to be 104+ years old. Just thing..once it was just 1 year old. Wish I could go there. Beautiful airplanes.
It's a great museum,have been many times, if you ever find yourselves in Palm Springs I would definitely visit their aircraft museum, we visited by chance whilst on a road trip and had a great day.
An incredible place. I was there around 10 years ago while I was in the area. So much to see, it took me 4 hours to get round it all..
It is massive! We had a lovely time exploring and experiencing such history. 🤍 Jess x
Hooray u went they have some fab airshows there when most of that stuff in some of the hangers go up 😊
Duxford is amazing, indeed. Great to see the current line-up in your video. Its several decades since I visited Duxford, sadly, so it is really interesting to see the current displays. I last went just after the superb US collection was first opened. Even then, I was just blown away. Most of all, when I saw, from a distance, a TSR-2 in the then-line up on the apron in front of the main hanger. I could not believe it. If you are a fan of UK military aviation, you know. You walked past it in the main hanger - which contains a good number of British world-beating designs - at around 6:30. Its cancellation - like Canada's Avro Arrow - remains highly-controversial to this day.
Yes, the Sunderland flying boat is amazing. The U-boats had a different view, and the Luftwaffe called it "The Flying Porcupine". That Spitfire is a Mk24 - the final production version, and SO much faster and capable and more advanced than the Battle of Britain early versions. Its just amazing, how this superb design was able to be developed and developed.
That BUFF dominates the brilliant US hanger! Other than first seeing the TSR-2 at Duxford, the only other aircraft I ever saw that came close to making such an impression on me was the similar B52 at Ellsworth AFB, SD. Part of another superb collection. You really have to get up close to one of these, to realise just how big it is? Indeed, all that visit to Ellsworth made a HUGE impression, since it included a tour to see the (now-decommissioned) Minuteman missile silos. On a grey, eerie afternoon in the massive big-sky country, after having been to see the hugely-atmospheric Little Bighorn Battlefield that morning. Don't let anyone say the US is short on history, and atmosphere from the past. Just more recent!
Adrian,
I do agree with you that it was massive and so well put together and so much to see and explore. We're so glad you enjoyed the video and seeing the line-up. We spent over 2 hours there. We felt like we needed to return to see even more. We didn't know that about the Canadian part being possibly controversial.
The Buff is my all-time favorite, as I have mentioned many times. It's so incredible to see them take off and land. We loved the smell of coffee as we walked into the American Air Museum! This will be a stop we will recommend to others to pay a visit.
We're so glad you could come along with us and enjoyed spending the time with us. 🤍 Jess & Family x
The F117 nighthawk was the 1st "stealth" aircraft, There were Spy Planes before, but there weren't "Hidden". The U2 was a ultra high altitude plane that flew on the border of space it took the invention of SAM to make this plane redundant. The SR71 still holds the speed records for a jet engined craft and it was able to out run the missiles.
Both of these were traceable on radar, it's just little could be done to stop them doing their missions.
The Spitfire and Lancaster are two of the most iconic and revered machines of all time. If you attend an airshow in the UK, the crowd goes absolutely silent when they fly over. While they are both astonishing machines, the Spitfire is regarded as the plane that saved the UK from invasion and losing the war, while the Lancaster was the plane that allowed the UK to hit back. You should check out the "Battle of Britain" - and perhaps the Blitz, to understand how badly the country was being besieged.
The Spitfire actually flew alongside another plane, the Hurricane, but the Spitfire is more of an icon. While the RAF fought the Battle of Britain alone (the US was years away from joining the war in Europe) seven US pilots actually flew with the RAF, having travelled to the UK and volunteered - some of whom pretended to be Canadian, to avoid being prosecuted in the States for breaking neutrality laws.
Many or the planes flown in the Battle of Britain were from either Commonwealth countries or Europeans who had escaped when the. Germans invaded their own countries. It was at the end of the Battle of Britain the Churchill gave on of his most iconic speeches, stating that "Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many, to so few". There are numerous UA-cam videos on the battle, and there is also a big budget movie "The Battle of Britain" which went to some lengths to make a very historically accurate account of it.
The Aircraft you said looks so mean is the Avro Lancaster bomber, my grandma helped to build Lancasters at the AVRO factory in world war 2. Rip Grandma, proud grandson
Hi family , my brother was in the parachute regiment I'm wondering which aircraft he would have parachuted from , he served in bosnia and Iraq and a bit in Northern Ireland . I love a good museum so thank you for taking us with you 😊❤
Last went there in 2017 and can see all the same aircraft but some have been moved around. Probably will go again next year as I'm only 2 hours away. Another amazing museum to visit is Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset will go back there again someday. Living im Norwich I pass a Avro Vulcan and an English Electric lightening everyday as I pass the Norwich Aviation Museum.
At 9.52 in your video that stub of a wrecked aircraft fuselage in the corner is a part of Rudolf Hess's Messerschmitt he flew in to Scotland in 1941.
Duxford is such an amazing museum, it's just up the road from me, so I've visited on multiple occasions and see something different each time. Looks like you had a fantastic time. 😁
We did have a lovely time and feel like we need to return. There is so much to see and learn. We appreciate your time! 🤍 Jess x
I don't know if you found the sign on the SR-71 but that one in Duxford is the one that set the sustained altitude flight record, 85,000 feet in 1976.
They've moved things around a bit in the American part since I was there last. I hope you had time to look in the three other hangars and the open buildings behind, such as the plotting map room.
Wonderful video folks thank you so much
Great vlog guys, been there many times.
2 Hours is not enough to go round the entire site. I went a few weeks back was there for 5 hours taking it all in.
There are so many side hangars with more WW2 aircraft. In one of those hangars is the B-17 - Memphis Belle / Sally B which is still airworthy.
Duxford is like my 2nd home.. been there more times than I can count 😄 Last time I was there was for the Spitfire experience where I got to sit in the cockpit.. the guys also let me sit in the cockpit of Hurricane BE505..
Anyhoo.. awesome museum 😁👍🏼
Nice, I would love to have that experience. We will have to see when they are doing that again. Thank you for sharing, friend! 🤍 Jess x
Been there a few times.Great video and have a great week guys 💯👍
Thank you. It was a massive and lovely experience. 🤍 Jess x
You should check-out the Mosquito, one of the most AMAZING British aircraft of WWII, along with the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lanc
Thank you, we will do that. 🤍 Jess x
Welcome to the U.K ,Watched this because , my Father served in the R.AF in the 50"s , He also worked on Concored , and this is one place we never got to see before he died in 2022 ,
enjoy you"re stay , hope you all have a lovely time x
Another place near here is RAF Thorpe Abbotts. Its about an hours drive away from Duxford (to the East). Its about 4 miles from my house and its the air base where the Masters of the Air unit flew from. Its not a huge place but if you loved the show then its worth a visit.
Did you see the glass memorial to the 30,000 US airmen killed and 7,000 US planes lost in the Second World War while operating from the UK? Seeing the silhouette of so many aircraft engraved on the glass panel brings home the scale of the sacrifice.
We did but didn't show it on the video. We definitely paid our respects. 🤍 Jess x
I have only been to Duxford Air Museum once. And that was about 8 or so years ago when i joined the Royal Air Force
A Westland Lysander. . . I had no idea there was one left anywhere. Thank God
Thank you 🙏 for sharing ☝️amazing place 🤔to visit and be amazed 💭👏👏👏great 👍comment 🎥👋☮️
Did gou visit the smaller hangars that have a lot of the WW2 aircraft? Lots of Spitfires in there and most of them are flying examples. Also hurricanes, at least 1 P51 and some others.
On my last visit I flew in the Hurricane and my dad in the Spitfire. So much fun!!
The Mosquito was a fabulous aircraft. When metal was in short supply, the idea was born of a largely wooden framed aircraft. This could be built using largely idle factories and skilled carpenters used to producing furniture. The plane was fast, as it was light, and could stand quite a lot of damage because of its design. It was originally designed as a bomber, but was adapted to many roles including as a fast fighter.....
and hardly ever picked up by radar, due to it's wooden construction ...
Lovely, thank you for taking the time to share with us. We really love learning from you all. It is so cool reading all the information and facts. 🤍 Jess x
As they say in the U.K. Right up your alley Chris.You should go to the British War Museum in London .
The Mosquito! Possibly the first stealth aeroplane, because it was mostly wooden so it did not show up on RADAR. And was that a Hawker Harrier? Really scary craft, VTOL totally SciFi! And that Spitfire, one of the most beautiful aircraft ever. They sound good too. Nice of you to take us with you. Bye!
The first plane mentioned was the Harrier, which the US bought and became the (McDonnel Douglas) AV8B...When the UK decided to scrap their fleet of Harriers, the aircraft and spares were sold to the US for spare parts/refurbishment!
Nice, thank you very much for the information. Really appreciate your time sharing with us. 🤍 Jess x
Hi I told you All many times that duxford was worth a good look Glad you took the children sorry there's no sheep
So did I and was worried that Chris wouldn't have enough time to visit..before going back..
💯 Thank you! well worth it, and I will definitely recommend it to others. We always do our best to make time! 🤍 Jess x
Been to Duxford many times both for museum and air shows. The flat tracked vehicle 13:18 is a German WWII remote-controlled demolition vehicle, named 'Goliath'. It was controlled usually by a wire or remote and was often used to drive under tanks. It wasn't very successful as the Russians shot and broke the wire. You know when an aircraft is huge when it has wheels under the wingtips, B-52.
Love Duxford, was lucky enough to have my name on the side of the B-17 Sally B a couple of years ago
Vaudevillian, wow, that is incredibly cool, friend! We had a lovely time exploring and learning. 🤍 Jess x
@@DaydreamersBarnusually you can go on board it at Duxford but I think they close it off at winter for maintenance. It’s the only B-17 currently left flying in Europe so I feel it’s important to keep it flying from what was a USAAF 8th Air Force airfield during WW2 (albeit a Fighter airfield but still).
Did you see the Battle of Britain sector control room too?
Great video. Have you visited the American war cemetery at Madingley ? It's close to Duxford.