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UNIQUE EXHIBITION CELEBRATES BATTLE OF BRITAIN HEROES
 THOSE iconic Second World War fighter aircraft the Hurricane
and the Spitfire have been brought together in a unique exhibition which keeps
alive memories of the Battle of Britain.
Called The Battle of Britain Experience, the exhibition
celebrates the lives and work of two top flying aces, Bob Stanford-Tuck, who
downed 30 enemy aircraft, and Adolph "Sailor" Malan, who was credited with at
least 27 kills.
Created by Rex Cadman, organiser of the War and Peace Show,
and former travel company executive Mark Hatfield, the mobile exhibition
features life size replicas of the aircraft. There is also a display trailer
set up to tell the story of the Battle of Britain and the heroic role played by
Stanford-Tuck and Malan.
"We have created this
exhibition because we believe it's vital that the men and women who fought the
Battle of Britain should never be forgotten," said Rex Cadman. "If they had not
risked their lives in those turbulent days of 1940, the War might have had a
completely different outcome. And we should never forget that many did not
survive."
"We intend to offer
the exhibition for display at agricultural shows, air shows, military events
and exhibitions throughout the South East," said Mark Hatfield, who lives near
Paddock Wood. "Of course it has particular relevance for Kent because so much
of the Battle of Britain was fought over this county. It will also be available
for schools to really bring home the lessons of the Second World War."
The fibreglass aircraft replicas have been built specially
for the Battle of Britain Experience.
The Hurricane is to be painted in the colours of Bob
Stanford-Tuck, who began his combat career flying Spitfires. He first saw enemy
action over Dunkirk in May 1940 when he shot down three enemy planes.
In August that year he bailed out over Tunbridge Wells after
his aircraft was damaged in an exchange of fire with dive bombers. A week later
his engine was damaged after he attacked a Dornier off the Kent coast, but he
managed to glide back to safety.
Stanford-Tuck was later sent to command a Hurricane squadron
and was at first put off by the aircraft which he described as a "sturdy
carthorse".
After his first combat mission, however, he reversed this
view. "It had not a vice in its whole make up," he said.
After being shot down over France Stanford-Tuck spent three
years as a Prisoner of War, but escaped on New Year's Day 1945. His decorations
include the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Flying Cross with
two bars.
The Spitfire pilot celebrated is Adolph "Sailor" Malan, a
South African who commanded No. 74 Squadron at Biggin Hill. By revising the
attack formations of his squadron he turned it into one of the most successful
of the War. Malan was personally credited with 27 kills, seven shared and 16
aircraft damaged.
He remained active right through the War and on D-Day led a
Free French fighter wing over the beaches of Normandy. He was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order and Bar and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.
After the War, Malan became involved in the anti-apartheid
movement in South Africa.
The Battle of Britain Experience will be on display at The
War and Peace Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, from 20 to 24 July.
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