Walking Cambridge II and IWM Duxford

It was yet another split-up day. Again, nobody wanted to come with me to IWM (Imperial War Museum) Duxford to see a different and bigger collection of aircraft—just as well, as it cost an eyewatering 24 quid. The ladies, dodging the rain showers, went back into Cambridge and did some more sightseeing and window shopping—it’s been 24 hours since they last did that.

I set off to recharge the car at Trumpington (south end of Cambridge). I had to wait for 25 minutes as all 12 units were in use, with 3 to 4 cars queuing. The guy next to me often uses this one and said he had never seen it full. It charged very quickly when I did get access.

I went on to Duxford - only 10 minutes from the chargers - and parked. I started in Hangar 1 (of 6) and was gobsmacked by the size and the number of aircraft. Several other hangars were just as large, with some big planes on display. B-52, Concord, Sunderland flying boat, Vulcan, B17, Liberator, SR71,… And then there were the smaller planes, more Spitfires than when this was an active airbase…
Outside the airfield (used as a fighter base during the Battle of Britain) was a B17—Memphis Belle—which regularly flies in airshows here (one just a few weeks back). I was particularly interested in the B17 as my Dad flew in B17s that were used by RAF Coastal Command during the war for anti-submarine patrols. They had another one on display in Hangar 6—the American collection! It was good to get to see them.

There was so much to see that I can’t describe it all here (‘what a relief’ I hear you say). The pictures will be better than my descriptions anyway,

Got home mid-afternoon. We walked to a nearby chippy and bought far too much food - but it was good.もっと詳しく