Army Flying Museum Ticket Portal

What is the wartime connection between a Professor of Chinese Literature, a Scotland Yard detective and a Conservative MP? Join Dr. Bruce Tocher on Monday 18th November at 7pm to find out how this diverse group of men and many others like them played a crucial role in the War Crimes Investigations and War Crimes Trials which followed the tragedy of Operation Freshman, the Allies first attempt to destroy the Heavy Water Facility at Vemork in Norway, and also the Allies first Glider borne raid of WWII. Bruce will also be providing new insights into the raid itself, including information on the first casualties, the crew of a photo reconnaissance Mosquito, and the role of local Norwegians in gathering crucial intelligence before the raid was launched. 

Bruce has lectured extensively in Norway and the UK on Operation Freshman and was interviewed earlier this year by BBC Radio Scotland in connection with his continuing search to trace the families of all of the men who took part in the raid.

Join Lt. Col (Retd) Derek Armitage to hear about the Berlin Airlift. The crisis started in June 1948, when Soviet forces blockaded rail, road, and water access to Allied controlled areas of Berlin. The United States and the United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied bases in Western Europe. The Operation would last a year and war was averted. This was the first major international clash of the COLD WAR between the Allies and the aggression of the Soviet Union.

Midnight, D-Day 6th June 1944. Under the cover of darkness, six wooden gliders containing Major John Howard's Coup de Main party, head towards two strategic bridges spanning the Caen Canal and River Orne. They are tasked with their capture, the very first action of D-Day. Once these flimsy aircraft are down, whatever happens, the men know that they will be totally alone for a crucial period, awaiting the inevitable German reaction. Could Howard's Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry hold on long enough for the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Pine-Coffin's 7th Parachute Battalion, entrusted with expanding the small defensive bridgehead into Benouville. Could these and further elements of the 6th Airborne Division, landing and holding Ranville just to the east, prevent the recapture of the bridges and hold on until the arrival of the seaborne relief? These were the crucial questions for the Division on D-Day.

History now tells us that the whole operation was indeed a brilliant achievement, with the capture of the bridges being one of the Second World War's most legendary actions, but what actually happened and what did those involved have to do to ensure that the whole day was a success? Join author, Neil Barber, in the Museum at 7pm on Monday 27th January to find out more. Neil will be signing copies of his latest book, 'Pegasus Bridge: The Capture, Defence and Relief of the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges on D-Day'.

Hear about a number of interesting and little-known Westland Helicopters projects from two ex-employees, Jeremy Graham and Dr Ron Smith. They will highlight factors affecting the success or failure of the projects, which range from early fixed-wing jets to civil and military helicopter designs, alongside research into the boundaries of high-speed helicopter flight; autonomous personal transport helicopters; and example technological innovations.

The authors were involved with many of the later studies described in their book, ‘Westland: Aircraft and Rotorcraft – Secret Projects and Cutting-Edge Technology.’ The book gives a comprehensive history of Westland’s work on fixed and rotary wing projects and associated technology developments. Many of these projects did not proceed to flight / or production and are consequently little-known, although they contributed to the company knowledge base and often influenced later designs.