High, Wide and Frightened

	High, Wide, and Frightened
	by Louise Thaden
	University of Arkansas Press 170 pages, sbk US$19.95, £11.46

“There was a time, long ago, when we flew along a fringe of dreams not yet born. Adventure-a part of every flight-was spine tingling, inspiring.”

The words of Louise Thaden still invigorate me after innumerable reads. She penned those words nearly seven decades ago, but it’s comforting to know that even in a world of stricter regulations and innovative technology, the pilot’s instinctive and ardent love of flight remains the same.

Louise’s atypical hunger for adventure was launched early in her childhood. “Since I can remember,” she writes, “from the time when I was seven and jumped off the barn under an oversized umbrella, I’ve wanted to fly.” There was only one problem conflicting with the dream: Louise was a girl. “For years it was merely a passive ambition. It was like the moon – completely unattainable.”

Louise lived long enough to see man walk the moon, but she still experienced her fair share of challenges in aviation. On December 7, 1928, in an era when most girls were reading Emily Post’s Etiquette, Louise flew her Travel Air 3000 to 20, 260′ and wrote a new world altitude record into the history pages. Slightly over a year later, she set a solo endurance record by flying for an astonishing 22 hours, 3 minutes, and 28 seconds. Meanwhile, reporters ate it up. They greedily spewed out saccharine accounts of their newfound heroine: “Louise Thaden, with her classic features and slim, light footed figure, might be a sister to Icarus, god of flight.”

Sister of Icarus or not, Louise writes with warmth, joy, and divine love for her flying. Complete with a foreword written by aerobatic superstar Patty Wagstaff, this book has earned its permanent place on my bookshelf. Here’s to Louise Thaden, who lives on through her passionate tribute to true flight.

- Brigit Hartop

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Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

	Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot
	by Starr Smith
	Zenith Press 287 pages, hbk US$19.75, £14.99

Mr. Smith. George Bailey. John “Scottie” Ferguson. L.B. Jeffries. We’ve seen Jimmy Stewart as an idealistic small-town politician, a financially-obsessed family man, a disturbed San Francisco detective, and a wheelchair-bound photojournalist spying on his neighbors. Yet behind the paradoxes, the psychoses, and the emotional warfare, lived an original drama rivaling even those we watched unfold on the silver screen.

International journalist Starr Smith has written this induction into the relatively unsung world of the man behind the actor: the twenty combat missions-squadron commander, and bomber pilot from rural Pennsylvania. “I have met a few movie stars,” says journalist and former war correspondent Walter Cronkite in his forward to Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot. “But of them all, I think that Jimmy Stewart was most like those modest heroes he portrayed.”

Stewart’s occupation as a B-24 Liberator pilot and squadron commander for the 445th Bomb Group defied the status typical to the uniformed celebrity: a recurring theme in his early military career was the constant struggle for equal assignments from the Air Corps. Becoming a colonel from a private in slightly under four years, Jimmy Stewart broke the standards for special treatment. Despite attempts by the U.S. Government to shelter the star due to his value as a captive, he finally received his status as a bomber pilot for the Eighth Air Force. Later on, he would become a brigadier general, promoted by General Eisenhower himself. It was the pinnacle of a long list of career credits that included pilot, captain, squadron commander, operations officer, and colonel.

Not just the generic biography, Starr Smith – himself an intelligence officer in the Eighth Air Force during WWII – recalls his own experiences with Stewart, often working side-by-side with the actor while briefing air combat crews. Now he has compiled the volume that so shrewdly details his acquaintance of this remarkable man. Complimented with Smith’s crisp, accurate reports, a unique and personal insight adds to the complexities of the quiet, unassuming man’s life. “A good man who fought the good fight,” writes Smith. “This is his story,”

- Brigit Hartop

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Aviation Museums in the United Kingdom

The Aeroflight directory of UK Aviation Museums covers 100 aviation-related historic collections located in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The museums are listed here in alphabetical order. A listing by geographical region is also available.

Alternatively, you can view these locations on Microsoft Live Search Maps. This facility allows you view aerial photos and road maps of the location, and obtain driving directions on how to get there.

You can use the search form below to locate information on a specific aircraft type, serial/registration, geographical location or visitor facility etc.

List Of Museums:-

• 1
• 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum
• A
• Aeroventure
• Avro Heritage Centre
• B
• Barton Aerodrome Visitor Centre
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre
• Bentwaters Cold War Museum
• Bletchley Park Communications & Electronics Museum
• Boulton Paul Aircraft Heritage Project
• Bournemouth Aviation Museum
• Brenzett Aeronautical Museum
• Bristol Aero Collection
• Bristol City Museum And Art Gallery
• Bristol Industrial Museum
• Brooklands Museum
• C
• Caernarfon Airworld Museum
• ‘Carpetbagger’ Aviation Museum
• Charnwood Museum
• City of Norwich Aviation Museum
• Cold War Jets Collection
• Concorde at Filton
• Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre
• Croydon Airport Visitor Centre
• D
• Davidstow Airfield and Cornwall at War Museum
• De Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre
• Doncaster Museum And Art Gallery
• Dumfries And Galloway Aviation Museum
• Dunkeswell Memorial Museum
• E
• East Essex Aviation Museum
• East Midlands Airport Aeropark
• Eden Camp
• F
• Farnborough Air Sciences Trust
• Fenland And West Norfolk Aviation Museum
• Firepower – The Museum of the Royal Artillery
• Flambards Experience
• Fleet Air Arm Museum
• Fort Paull Museum
• G
• Gatwick Aviation Museum
• H
• Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker
• The Helicopter Museum
• Highland Aviation Museum
• Historic Dockyard Chatham
• Hooton Park
• I
• Imperial War Museum Duxford
• Imperial War Museum London
• Imperial War Museum North
• J
• Jetstream Club
• K
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
• Kent Battle Of Britain Museum
• L
• Land’s End Heritage Site
• Lashenden Air Warfare Museum
• Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
• M
• Manchester Airport Aviation Viewing Park
• Manx Aviation and Military Museum
• Medway Aircraft Preservation Society
• Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
• Midland Air Museum
• Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre
• Muckleburgh Collection
• Museum of Army Flying
• Museum of Berkshire Aviation
• Museum of Science and Industry In Manchester
• N
• National Battle of Britain Memorial, Folkestone
• National Museum of Flight Scotland
• National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Newark Air Museum
• Newhaven Fort
• Norfolk And Suffolk Aviation Museum
• North East Aircraft Museum
• North Weald Airfield Museum
• O
• P
• Parham Airfield Museum
• Potteries Museum And Art Gallery
• Q
• R
• RAF Manston History Museum
• RAF Millom Aviation & Military Museum
• Real Aeroplane Company
• Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Museum
• Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
• Royal Air Force Museum Hendon
• Royal Engineers Museum
• S
• Science Museum – London
• Science Museum Swindon
• Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society
• Shoreham Aircraft Museum
• Shoreham Airport Visitor Centre
• Shuttleworth Collection
• Silk Mill – Derby’s Museum of Industry
• Snibston Discovery Park
• Solent Sky
• Solway Aviation Museum
• Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum
• Stanford Hall
• Station 146 Control Tower Museum
• Stondon Transport Museum
• Sywell Aviation Museum
• T
• Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
• Tank Museum
• Thameside Aviation Museum
• Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
• Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre
• U
• Ulster Aviation Society Heritage Centre
• Ulster Folk And Transport Museum
• V
• W
• Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group Aviation Museum
• Wellsbourne Wartime Museum
• Wellington Aviation Museum And Gallery
• Wings Museum, Redhill
• X
• Y
• Yorkshire Air Museum
• Z

Note: Maes Artro Heritage Museum, the Dundonald Aviation Centre and the Museum Of D-Day Aviation have now permamently closed down. Botany Bay no longer includes any aircraft exhibits

Science Museum Swindon

Key Facts

The Wroughton ‘out station’ near Swindon houses the large object store for the Science Museum in London, and holds all the large exhibits that are not on display there. In particular, visitors can see a number of airliners from the Air Transport Collection, plus other large exhibits such as agricultural machinery, cars and lorries. Among the aircraft on display are some very rare items, including the Boeing 247, Handley Page Gugnunc and the only Lockheed Constellation in the UK. A number of public open days and special events are held during the summer season.

Wroughton Airfield, on the A4361 south of Swindon, Wiltshire. Follow the signs for Wroughton from the A4365 (M4 Junction 16) or the A345 (M4 Junction 15) and then the brown ‘Science Museum’ signs. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

For opening times and special events, please refer to the official website.

Usually free, but there can be a charge for special events.

Amenities:

Toilets, parking, access for the disabled.

Hangar D4 holds the Constellation and many other aircraft	Hangar D3 mainly holds motor vehicles and some aircraft
Constellation N7777G	Constellation nose

Science Museum Swindon, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 9LT. Tel: 01793 846200, Official website.

Pathfinder II G-MMCB	Skytrike G-MBVT
Devon C.2 VP975	Bensen B.7 Gyro-glider
Bede BD-5B G-BGLB	P.166 G-APWY
P.166 nose	Z-37 Cmelak G-AVZB
Gnat T.1 XP505	Comet 1A nose G-ANAV
Comet 4B G-APYD	Gugnunc G-AACN
DH.89A Dragon Rapide G-ALXT	DC-3 EI-AYO
DH.84 Dragon G-ACIT	Boeing 247D N18E
Trident 3B G-AWZM	Comet 4B G-APYD

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Dragonfly HR.5 WG751 (photo, Dan Lord)

Key Facts

A very large site that is fully open to the public, telling the story of the dockyard and naval warfare. The Gannet is owned by 849 Squadron Association, and was previously located at Culdrose. Large naval exhibits include HMS Cavalier, the only surviving British WW2 destroyer, and 1960s submarine HMS Ocelot.

Chatham Historic Dockyard, east of Rochester, north of the A321, in Kent. Well signposted.

Open daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (or dusk if earlier), February 10 to October 28; Weekends only 10.00 am to 4.00 pm in November. Closed December and January.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled.

Gannet AEW.3 XL500 (photo, Dan Lord)	Another view of the Gannet (photo, Dan Lord)

Gannet AEW.3 XL500 has been bought by Tim Manna of Kennet Aviation for restoration to airworthiness as G-KAEW.

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, The Old Surgery, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ. Tel: 01634 823800, Fax: 01634 823801.
Website: The Historic Dockyard or Historic Dockyard Chatham

‘Waveney class’ RNLI Lifeboat (photo, Dan Lord)	RNLI D-class in-shore life boat ‘Blue Peter III’ (photo, Dan Lord)
HMS Gannet, the last surviving RN sloop (photo, Dan Lord)	HMS Ocelot – open for tours (photo, Dan Lord)
WW2 destroyer HMS Cavalier (photo, Dan Lord)

Wellington Aviation Museum and Gallery

External view of the museum. (photo, Kevin Pitt)

Key Facts

An offshoot of the successful aviation art and print gallery, the museum tells the stories behind some of the paintings and prints on show with the aid of photographs and artefacts. The emphasis is on illustrating the personal side of wartime operations. The history of the local airfield and its Vickers Wellington OTU is also portrayed.

On the A44 Northeast of Cheltenham, to the west of Moreton-in-Marsh village, Gloucestershire. Well signposted. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. Closed Mondays and Christmas Day.

See official website for details.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled.

WW2 bombsight. (photo, Kevin Pitt)	One corner of the display area. (photo, Kevin Pitt)

Wellington Aviation, British School House, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, GL56 0BG. Tel: 01608 650323. Website: Wellington Aviation Museum.

Wellington L7775 tail section. (photo, Kevin Pitt)	Close-up of the fin structure. (photo, Kevin Pitt)

Wellesbourne Wartime Museum

Key Facts

The museum is located in an underground emergency wartime command and control bunker, and houses a collection of aviation artefacts. Displays cover the history of Wellesbourne Mountford airfield, together with various aircraft components and memorabilia. There is a small aircraft park, including the nose of Vulcan XA903. This aircraft was used to test the Olympus engines of Concorde in the 1960s, and a small dedicated group of enthusiasts is trying to restore some of the additional test equipment used in this aircraft. Elsewhere on the airfield, Vulcan XM655 undertakes taxi runs on occasions.

Located at Wellesbourne Mountford airfield, south of the B4086 near Wellesbourne, 5 miles east of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Sundays & Bank Holidays 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

No up-to-date information.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Access for the disabled.

Provost T.1 WV679. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)	Rear view of the Provost. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)

* Owned by the XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society.

Derek Powell, Wellesbourne Aviation Group, 167 Colebourne Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B13 0HB. Tel: Not known.

Vampire T.11 XK590. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)	Vampire avionics bay. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)
Yak-52 RA-01378. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)	Vulcan B.1 cockpit. (photo, Olaf Kirchner)

Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group Aviation Museum

Key Facts

During World War Two, Sleap was a Bomber Command training base. From January 1944 it was used to train glider pilots for the airborne assaults of D-Day and Arnhem. Through the co-operation of the Shropshire Aero Club, the Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group operates a museum on the site. This all-volunteer group investigates crash sites and recovers and displays artifacts as a memorial to pilots that gave their lives operating in the Shropshire area during World War II. The displays include a number of aero engines, and a reconstruction of an airfield Flight Office.

Sleap Aerodrome, south west of Wem, Shropshire. Wem is on the B5476 north of Shrewsbury, and Sleap can be reached from a ‘C’ road off the B5476. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open every Second and Fourth Sunday in the month from May to October. Other times by prior arrangement.

FREE

Amenities:

No information.

WARG, 2 Fields View, Lodmore Lane, Burleydam, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 4BD.

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

Short Sealand G-AKLW nose (photo, Jeremy Briggs)

Key Facts

The Transport Museum comprises the most comprehensive transport collection in Ireland. It includes ‘The Flight Experience’, an interactive exhibition developed in partnership with Bombardier Aerospace featuring aviation and the aerospace industry. The activities of local pioneers Harry Ferguson and Lilian Bland are highlighted. Other transport displays include the Irish Railway Collection, road transport exhibits, a ‘Titanic’ exhibition and a recreation of an Ulster town of the early 1900s.
A Short Sealand is now undergoing restoration by the museum, and the nose section is now viewable from the display area. The Ferguson Monoplane reproduction has some original parts, including the pilot’s seat.

At Cultra Manor, near Holywood, on the A2 Bangor road, 7 miles north east from Belfast city centre, County Down. See this location on Microsoft Live Search Maps

Open Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, Sunday 11.00 am to 6.00 pm, July, August & September; Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, Sunday 11.00 am to 6.00 pm, March – June; Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, Sunday 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, October to February excluding a three-day Christmas holiday.

For Transport Museum: See official website for details. Additional charges apply for Folk Museum.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking, Cafe, Souvenir shop, Access for the disabled, education & conference centre.

Ferguson Monoplane cockpit. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)	Ferguson Monoplane side view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)
McCandless M4 G-ATXX front view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)	McCandless M4 rear view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0EU, Northern Ireland. Tel: 028 9042 8428, Fax: 028 9042 8728. Website: The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Short SC.1 front view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)	Short SC.1 side view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)
SD360 nose front view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)	SD360 nose rear view. (photo, Jeremy Briggs)

Ulster Aviation Society Heritage Centre

Key Facts

The museum is run by the UAS, which aims to preserve the province’s aeronautical past. A large number of artefacts and photographs are exhibited, in addition the aircraft listed below. The Museum was forced to close in late 2004 and is currently in the process of finding a new location. The aircraft have all been moved off-site and are currently in storage.

The museum has now vacated it’s previous location at Langford Lodge airfield and is currently in negotiations for a new site.

Temporarily closed.

Free.

Amenities:

Toilets, Parking.

Display cabinets (photo, Paul McMaster)	Sea Hawk FB.3 WN108 (photo, Paul McMaster)

Ulster Aviation Society, c/o Ray Burrows, 33 Old Mill Meadows, Dundonald, BT16 1WQ. Tel: 028 9445 4444. Website: Ulster Aviation Society

Buccaneer S.2B XV361 (photo, Maurice Auld)	Tucano G-BTUC (photo, Maurice Auld)
Wildcat V JV482 (photo, Raymond Burrows)	Vampire T.11 WZ549 (photo, Paul McMaster)