Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial

Been here a few times since I've lived in Canterbury, and never tire of a visit. Located on the old RAF Manston airfield (now a commercial airfield), it commemorates the key role the station played not only in the Battle of Britain, but throughout WW2. There is a Hurricane and Spitfire to see, and a huge amount of memorabilia - plus the shop always has something inviting. Thoroughly recommended.

Their website:

Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial - RAF Manston, Kent, UK

Now some photos. The main building:

 

Spitfire:

 

Hurricane:

 

BoB statue outside:

 

Memorial garden to the rear:

 

Searchlight:



ROC OP bunker:

 

Finally, anyone know if this is the original control tower?

 

Thanks for posting that Paul, some very good photos. Seems to be well worth a visit.

 

Paul,

Excellent photos and reminds me of my BoB airfields visit several years ago.

Regards
Tom

 

Fantastic photos Paul! Looks like a great place to visit. Love the pics of hurricane and spitifre

 

Just having a Google & found this.
PilotWeb

May 20th 1943 H Ehrhardt of 1/SKG10 landed at Manston and was pounced on by pilots of 609 sqd and his FW190 A-4/U8 was snatched with delight.
Four weeks later Werner Ohne also of 1/SKG10 became Manston's fourth passive victory making a perfect landing in FW 190 A-5/U8.

 

Finally, anyone know if this is the original control tower?



From what I can gather, Paul, the control tower was built in 1978/79 as the old one was called an watch office and situated a little further away to the south-east.

 

One of the original wartime buildings is the sheds which house the air cadets now I think. They're on the opposite side of road near the junction. There's a photo of Churchill visiting them, I think they were the local Int. section at the time.

From what I can gather, Paul, the control tower was built in 1978/79 as the old one was called an watch office and situated a little further away to the south-east.

IF it is a replacement I'd suggest it was built a trifle earlier as I was lucky enough to visit this control tower in either '76 or '77 as an eager schoolboy.

Just having a Google & found this.

Not long afterwards there was a more unexpected visitor when Unteroffizier Heinz Ehrhardt landed his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 there. It transpired he had mistaken Manston for St Omer. The Typhoon pilots treated him to cocoa and biscuits.

Ah I believe this was the chap trying to find his way back from Essex on a foggy night. Some Int. bods tore down there, and expressed a little displeasure at not only finding him in the officers mess but also engaged in a lively discussion of the flight dynamics of both aircraft and tactics.

Paul great minds think alike - I've just taken photos of this very place with the same post in mind. I also took photos of the Manston museum, mind if I tack those on to this one?

 

Phil/Gage - I thought the brickwork on it looked ?40s/50s.

Phil - feel free to add some more photos: the more the merrier!

 

Phil/Gage - I thought the brickwork on it looked ?40s/50s.

Phil - feel free to add some more photos: the more the merrier!

The only ref I can find, Paul, is in ATB Battle of Britain and it says, "In October 1979, the new control tower dominates the skyline and all traces of the former signals square and watch office have gone."
Shame there isn't a close up picture of the control tower.

 

Ok, thanks for that.

 

Phil - feel free to add some more photos: the more the merrier!

I thenk yew...

Originally RAF Manston, like a lot of bases, had a couple of WWII planes just sitting outside the main gates. Eventually they managed to raise funds for a museum, but over the decades their collection has grown while the premises haven't and so every corner is stuffed with goodies. Most of this is behind glass so it has negatively effected some of the photos, click on them for a larger version...


Typical extra exhibit, but not one of the biggest ones.


A very modern development in it being German and not shot down.


Plenty of these war time daily objects which really add a feel for things.


222 Squadron Tally.


Objects d' guerre.


One of the dummy bouncing bombs from nearby tests at Reculver.


Great gift shop, tea towels a plenty and always friendly volunteers.


As you come out of the Museum the Manston museum is just the other side of the car park.
Squint closely at the left hand side and you should see a biplane. It's a cut-out prop from the film "Flyboys".
It's mixed period, as is Manston's history, and I've included non-WWII items to reflect it's overall content.


Once inside you go up the stairs and there's various displays, but mainly models. Don't panic if you need
disabled access, you just go around the other way.


You can also get a peek into the workshop and see what they're working on.


The largest model is of Manston during WWI.


Along a walk way and a glimpse into the interior.


Through the commercial history section, and someone has deffo been on the duty free.


Another glimpse down as we approach the WWII area.


Part of the WWII section, and it's blackout.


Home front display, including a weekly ration.


Just one of the "Flyboy" props this museum was lucky enough to scrounge.


There's quite a few whole aircraft all looking totally realistic.


For a tiny extra fee they'll unlock exhibits like this so you might sit inside. Very hands-on
approach which is typical for here.


Out into the yard, and across the way you can spot a Nissen hut.


A humble selection of vehicles, including another "Flyboys" prop.


A very typical just-sitting-around piece. Behind it you can see a wartime hut once visited by Churchill.


Back inside there's a WWI workshop.


A very generous donation which adds an incredible detail which museums such as this couldn't
really afford to produce on their own.


Another fine giftshop, no tea towels but tons of models for boys to go "Oh wow!" at. Again very friendly
volunteers.

 

Thanks for more great pictures.

 

On a related theme...I spent yesterday looking at aerial photograhs of Kent for a work project just south of RAF Manston. This photo was taken on the 8th of November 1941, north is at the top: the east-west rectangle is the grass runway but look carefully in the arable fields to the east of the runway and visible is a crashed aircraft (to the east of the two white dots), with its own 'ploughmarks' behind it. I just thought somebody might like to see it...