Fundraising event for the Veterans of Normandy

A quick follow up to my notice last week that I would be attending a veterans event on Saturday. Veterans from WWII, Korea and the Falklands came along to support the launch of my Brother in Law's new book. The public came out in force and the old Fire Station in Hadleigh was packed throughout. All proceeds from the day will be going to the Veterans of Normandy group. 

Veterans present included the following incredible men:

• Pte Thomas White (Paratrooper) who features in the new book. 
• Medic David Whiteman, 1st Airborne - Dunkirk & Arnhem 
• Medic Alec Hall, 1st Airbourne - Arnhem
• Alfred Smith - Dunkirk, D-Day Gold Beach
• Warrent Officer Bob Stevens - Juno Beach and Market Garden
• Sapper Don Sheppard - Juno Beach and Market Garden
• Royal Marine John Jones - A veteran after WWII
• RN Albert England - LCT2498 - Utah Beach
• RN Doug Shelly - Arctic Convoys & D-Day
• RN Len Hobbs - D-Day Gold Beach
• RN Charles Wheeler - Arctic Convoys & D-Day
• RN Alfred Fowler - HMS Sheffield, Arctic Convoys & D-Day Decoy
• RN Norman Summerhayes - Atlantic Convoys, Malta, D-Day & Pacific
• L/Aircraftsman Bernard Mabey 9/617 Dambusters Sqn
• Gunner Harry Irons - 9 Sqn
• Major John Hawkins - Korean War
• Lt Colin Conner, winner of the Military Medal at Goose Green in the Falklands. 

RAF Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum began in 1981 when a group of enthusiasts decided to keep the memory of the site alive. They expanded, were given a building to use and by 1982 had opened their doors to the public. The museum has continued to grow and develop since then and today it tells the story of the UK's military aviation heritage through thousands of artefacts both large and small. The museum now has over a dozen aircraft and several cockpit reconstructions for visitors to explore. I 'dragged' the family along with me and as usual I went camera in hand. 

Inside one of the exhibition hangers

Hawker Hunter Mk 5

Hunter Mk 3 - WB188 Which broke the World Speed Record in 1953

Supermarine Swift

The Gloster Meteor F4 which broke the world speed record in 1946

A replica Hawker Hurricane Mk 1

Mitchell - Designer of the Spitfire

Typical British Bomber Crew flying kit from WWII

Pigeon Reconnaissance from WWI (I kid you not).  

A Picket Hamilton retractable fort

De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW 2

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR 2

Harrier GR3

British Fighter crew flying kit from WWII

Westland Helicopter

The Scramble Bell

If you have an interest in British military aviation then this museum is certainly worth a visit. Its crammed full of very interesting exhibits and everything is well laid out and carefully presented. There were also a lot of volunteers around ready to answer questions and help in any way. All in all an excellent museum. 

The Submarine Museum at Gosport

I have wanted to visit the Submarine Museum at Gosport for a long time and when I realised I was passing very close nearby on my holiday I couldn't miss the opportunity. For anyone interested in our maritime history - and in particular submarine warfare - this museum is an absolute must. The site contains a second world war submarine that served through the Cold War, the first submarine that served in the Navy Royal Navy and a midget submarine from WWII.

HMS Alliance

Inside the Bow Torpedo Room

The Bow Torpedo Tubes

One of the 'Driving Seats' in the main control centre of the sub

The Engine Room

The subs Engine Order Telegraph

View Down the length of the sub

The Bow of the Alliance

The HMS Holland 1 was the first submarine commissioned by the Royal Navy

Despite being lost at sea in 1913 and not raised until 1982 the ship is in remarkable condition

The interior and the subs single torpedo tube

Guess who is enjoying his day out?

The Bow of the Holland One

Midget Submarine X24 - The X class was a World War II midget submarine class built for the Navy during 1943–44

View from above showing two hatches

The aft propeller and rudder assembly of the X24

Interior view - The X Class subs had a crew complement of 4

The Jolly Rodger flag of the HMS Conqueror - This was the Churchill-class nuclear-powered submarine that sunk the Argentinian cruiser General Belgrano in 1982

We only had a couple of hours here as we were travelling on to Sussex this day and couldn't stay longer. Having said that there was more to see and we could easily have stayed a couple of hours more had we been able to. Definitely worth another visit at some point in the future. 

Muckleburgh Collection Revisited - Part 1

While I was away I was hoping to revisit the Muckleburgh Collection at Weybourne in Norfolk. I visited the museum in 2009 but since then the collection has expanded and new facilities have been built. My lovely wife knew I wanted to revisit the Muckleburgh Collection so she suggested that I drop her and the kids off in nearby Cromer so I could explore the museum in peace while they did a little shopping. I spent around three hours looking at the exhibits and of course taking pictures, and here are a selection.

The Artillery Hall has a wide range of guns on display

A British made signal pistol used on D-Day

A selection of models of the aircraft based in Norfolk during WWII

A British 13 Pounder Field Gun

An Argentinian 155mm Field Gun abandoned at the end of the Falklands War

The 17 Pounder - Arguably the best British Anti-Tank Gun of WWII

Chevrolet C8 Pdr Anti-Tank Portee - 1941

French AMX 13 Light Tank

Diamond T Recovery Truck

GMC 6x6 Truck

Morris Quad 4x4 Truck

The museum have loads more on display and I'll post some more pictures tomorrow.