flying ledgends airshow duxford imperial war museum picutures from www.northamptonshire.co.uk WWII fighters spitfire hurricane P51 mustang B17 B26

FLYING LEGENDS AIRSHOW
Duxford July 2004

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For the pilots and crews of the hundreds of historic aircraft which assemble every year at Duxford in July its an annual celebration. Two Mitchell B25 bombers from WWII join the lineup.	The pilot of this B25 Mitchell which flew in from Holland has interests other than just planes - here entertaining the crowd with some jazz violin!	This DeHaviland Tiger Moth was kept busy providing flights around Duxford all weekend for anyone brave enough to experience REAL flying!

Most of the aircraft like this Hawker Hurricane WWII fighter take many hours of maintenance each year to keep them flying and every hour in the air is very costly.	The planes were not the only legends at Duxford. This american flyer notched up five 'kills' in WWII flying a Thunderbolt fighter similar to the one seen here.	A lineup of WWII P51 'mustang' fighters. Planes like this were flying from the airfield at Kings Cliffe during WWII.

A P40 fighter sporting the 'Flying Tigers' paintwork as seen in the John Wayne film of the same name.	Several variants of the Hawker Hurricane WWII fighter were assembled. Flown by Douglas Bader in The Battle of Britain.	These living history enthusiasts added a real sense of the Battle of Britain to the event in their authentic WWII flying tunics.

Most pilots flying Spitfires such as this one in WWII were teenagers who learnt the skills required to fly the plane during active service.	This Spitfire fighter is typical of the Battle of Britain fighter. Seldom do so many surviving examples of the aircraft assemble ini one place.	A rare visitor to Duxford was this rare example of a Russian fighter - one of only two in the world and recently restored.

This De Havilland Dragon Rapide was used in 1947 by British European Airways as a luxury airliner. In the 1950's it provided pleasure flights from Heathrow Airport. It was restored in 1977.	An American Skyraider which served as a carrier based fighter aircraft with the American Navy. The folded wings enabled the aircraft to be stored under the deck of the aircraft carrier.	Two Spitfires take off to join up with 11 others at the start of the flying display.

A formation of American Navy fighters assembling for their display.	Another civilian legend - a German Junkers JU52, which is still operated by Lufthansa Traditionflug .	The De Havilland Dragon was present in large numbers. Several of the aircraft are still available for pleasure flights from Duxford.

The Douglas DC3 Dakota operated by the Battle off Britain Memorial Flight. The DC3 flew as a troop carrier from Polebrook during WWII and was in service for many years as a commercial airliner.	One of the 13 Supermarine Spitfire fighters which could be seen at Duxford this weekend. This particular version of the fighter was one of the later models produced.	An earlier version similar to those that fought in The Battle of Britain in 1941.

Four different variants of the Spitfire in formation over Duxford sporting some very different markings.	The sight of so many WWII fighters in formation is becoming an increasingly rare sight and the Flying Legends display at Duxford is one of the few occassions each year in the whole of Europe when such a spectacle is possible.	This example of the American Mitchell B25 bomber in RAF markings is based and maintained at Duxford Imperial War Museum.

One Spitfire fighter returning to the ground display area following participation in the mass flypast during the afternoon display.	The B17 bomber 'Sally B' still sporting the 'Memphis Belle graphic from the film of the same name. These bombers flew from several Northamptonshire airfields in WWII.	The Sally B was joined at the display by 'Pink Lady' - another preserved B17 which flew in from France.

Another Spitfire......	and another! - clipped wing version.	After the display ended there was still plenty of time for visitors to view the parked aircraft as well as browse the large number of trade stalls.