Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum

17/06/2026

We were pleased to assist DBMK Model Kits today with some close up photos of the surface detail on TB752's rear fuselage.

The level of detail that is possible in scale modelling today is nothing short of incredible. We are looking forward to stocking DBMKs Spitfire range soon!

The team are doing an incredible job so far!

15/06/2026

Mustang Monday!

Can you spare a moment to help Col. Joe Peterburs USAF (Retd.)?

Joe, now 101, flew P-51s with the 20th Fighter Group out of USAAF Station 367 (RAF King's Cliffe) in World War II. He is best known for shooting down Luftwaffe Ace Walter Schuck in an Me262, but went on to serve in both Korea and Vietnam.

Joe is now championing a Memorial to his colleagues including his best friend and wingman Lt. Kenneth Pettit who was killed when his Mustang crashed near Ipswich having suffered an engine failure.

You can find out more about supporting the memorial by following the link to the gofundme set up by Joe's friend Morgan Torp-Pedersen here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/8mh6u7-honoring-a-fallen-hero-the-kenneth-pettit-memorial

Please share this appeal to help Joe achieve his goal and create a lasting memorial to the men of the 20th Fighter Group.




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14/06/2026

🎂 Happy belated birthday to us! 🎂

45 Years ago yesterday, on 13th June 1981 the Spitfire Memorial was formally opened by Air Marshal JFG Howe CBE AFC RAF

Donations are very gratefully received. Not only because they let us know that we enjoy the support and interest of our visitors but also because, like many charities, we can claim Gift Aid support which could add an additional 20% to our donated income.

10/06/2026

We were pleased to see 'Artist in residence' David Bryant today who sketched a familiar view of TB752 and enjoyed talking to many visitors.

06/06/2026

Today we remember all those who took part in the D-Day landings and subsequent liberation of Europe, 82 years ago.

Two future pilots of our Spitfire, TB752, were operational with 403 Sqn on D-Day. James Lindsay and Bob Shannon shown here, both flew with 403 throughout the Normandy Campaign and beyond.

Lindsay, seen seated in his Spitfire, was awarded the DFC for a combat on 2nd July 1944 when he shot down 3 Me109s. He would go on to become an ace and later flew with the USAF in the Korean War.

Shannon, seen here wearing civilian clothes, was shot down on the 29th of June 1944 and following successful evasion made it back to his Squadron in August.

28/05/2026

Among the more interesting visitors to the museum today was this beautiful 1938 Triumph motorcycle combination spotted in our car park. It wouldn't have looked out of place on display in the museum! We love to see vintage cars and bikes and their owners coming to visit.

23/05/2026

We were pleased to be visited yesterday by Neil Morrison who's father Robert 'Mo' Morrison flew TB752 in 1945. Neil had travelled from Ontario to visit his father's former mount!

19/05/2026

The museum recently acquired this lovely 1939 dated 'Brodie' Helmet manufactured by Briggs Motor Bodies of Dagenham. It is an Ambulance service helmet and features a Finchley Borough Crest in addition to the 'A' on the Front and Rear.

Most interestingly the strap and rim of the Helmet is marked with the original owner's name G.E. Clarke.

Initial research suggests that the owner may have been a Librarian, George Ernest Clarke of Oakwood Rd N.W. 11.

12/05/2026

We were pleased to welcome Sue Oldcorn to the museum today along with Andy and Clive from Bexhill RAFA.

Sue had come to donate her late husband Roy's flying logbook and medals to the museum. Roy was a Lancaster Pilot at the end of WW2 and flew on Operations Manna and Exodus with 153 Sqn RAF Bomber Command.

After the war, Roy continued flying and even made a brief stop at Manston on September 14, 1945 in a Lancaster during a flight from RAF Scampton to Marseilles.

He became the personal pilot of Air Vice Mashal Darvall in Austria prior to demob in 1946.

We flew Roy on The Manston Lancaster Experience shortly after he celebrated his 100th Birthday!

It is an honour and a privilege to become custodians of these artefacts and to help keep Roy's memory alive for future generations.

11/05/2026

Talk reminder: The Dambusters at RAF Manston. Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 2PM.

Join museum volunteer and Author Peter Neale as he relates the story of the training and build- up to Operation Chastise at RAF Manston and nearby Reculver.