Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum

Tuesday 20 August 2002. We left Billingford Mill and headed for our next source of interest and wonderment. Which we found at a disused World War II aerodrome, now a museum. With free entry no less.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum turned out to be an absolute gem. This part of England was home to many squadrons of the RAF during World War II and saw much action as the German Luftwaffe either flew over on their way to or from bombing raids, or flew intentionally to RAF bases to knock them out of commission.

There were displays of aircraft standing all around representing many different periods and many different countries' air forces.

Given that Suffolk and Norfolk were on routes used by the Axis forces to and from bombing raids and that many of our own returning fighters and bombers would be trying to get back whilst shot up and badly damaged, the surrounding countryside has more than its fair share of crash sites, some of which have been excavated. Here a pile of twisted and battered aircraft parts, laboriously dug out of the ground were stored, some awaiting appraisal and identification.

A Vickers Valetta C2 used for VIP transport with the RAF in Malta, Egypt and Cyprus. The Valetta entered service in 1950, replacing the DC3 Dakota.

This aircraft was open to visitors and I went inside to take a look. This is one of only eleven aircraft built. The C2 was a specialised VIP transport. The bulk of the RAF's Valettas were C1 variants which had been designed for a number of roles and internal configurations, including troop carrying, wounded transports and glider towing. Internal fittings were made to be easily removed and fitted as required for different roles. Production of the C1 totalled 211 aircraft.

Inside the C2, the seating was arranged to face the tail of the aircraft. Typically they could seat between 9 to 25 passengers.

Every passenger comfort catered for... Ventilation controls and outlet and a button to call the steward's attention.

More displays could be found in the museum's large buildings. Gun turrets from medium to large bomber aircraft.

Tail gunners in particular were extremely vulnerable. Squashed into tiny turrets with knees up at chest height, there wasn't much chance of making a fast getaway in case of disaster, and after several hours cramped into position, you would be very stiff, freezing cold, and grateful of any assistance to get you out and straightened up even when the plane landed without having seen enemy fighters.

There's no such thing as a junk corner in a place like this - just collections of, as yet, unidentified parts and items without context.

This Spitfire wasn't a real aircraft, but was one of the many replica props built for the filming of the 1969 movie, The Battle of Britain.

There were many glass cases filled with Airfix or Revell 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft and I could have happily stood drooling over the many kits I remembered building as a boy.

The Gloster Javelin was the world's first delta winged twin jet fighter. This example dates from 1958 and was used to support the Zambian Government against Rhodesia.

Great Yarmouth 2002 Index