Memorial Flight at North Weald Airfield

Published on 13 May 2008

The Spitfire and Hurricane of the RAF Battle of Britain Flight will lead a special family event day of celebration at North Weald Airfield on Sunday 18 May 2008. They will be leading tributes as Wing Commander Tom F ‘Ginger’ Neil, DFC unveils a life-sized replica of the Hurricane he flew from North Weald during World War II. The Hurricane will take pride of place at the entrance to the historic Airfield later this year.

Gates open for the Spirit of North Weald Fly-in and Airfield Open Day hosted by The Squadron and Epping Forest District Council at 9:30am on Sunday with a nominal entrance charge of £2 per person. Proceeds from the fee will go towards mounting the replica Hurricane in a realistic flying position as a permanent tribute to the men and women who served at North Weald.

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly in salute over North Weald village before landing to join the family event at the Airfield. Visiting aircraft will be taking off and landing throughout the day, joining a selection of aircraft from the Airfield’s historic collections. Fly-pasts of representative military aircraft that have flown from RAF North Weald will take place from 12noon. This partnership event, managed by The Squadron and Epping Forest District Council in conjunction with Airfield tenants and users, will be open between 9:30am and 4pm.

It promises to be a great day out for all the family. A wide variety of community, business, leisure and aviation-based organisations will be on show with their stalls, displays and attractions. Several services provided by Epping Forest District Council will also be represented including the Emergency Planning Team with giveaways and a wind-up radio prize for the winner of a competition. Hot and cold refreshments will be on sale throughout the day with a barbecue and pay bar open at The Squadron from 12noon.

The highlight of this special day will be the rollout and showing of the Airfield’s new gate guardian. A full-sized replica of a Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft that flew from North Weald during the Battle of Britain, symbolising The Spirit of North Weald Airfield and its community since flying began here in 1916. It will provide the first public view of this emotive aircraft which will be mounted in a realistic flying position at the Airfield entrance later in the year.

The Hurricane replica will be revealed to the public at 1.30pm by Wing Commander Tom F ‘Ginger’ Neil, DFC who flew the depicted aircraft from North Weald during the Battle of Britain. The RAF Memorial Flight aircraft will then taxi out to take off and perform a fly-past in salute over the Airfield and its new gate guardian.

North Weald Airfield is off the A414, five minutes from junction 7 of the M11 at Hastingwood.

« back