COLLECTIONS|KENT BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUM
ABOVE
A trio of Hawker
Hurricane replicas
on show outside of
the museum.
(ALL IMAGES
VIA DAVE
BROCKLEHURST)80 http://www.britainatwar.comTRIBUTE TO
THE FEW
T
he vast majority of visitors
coming to the Kent Battle of
Britain Museum at Hawkinge
arrive expecting to see an aircraft
museum. Very quickly they realise
that this is not the case – in fact it is
a centre dedicated to the men of the
Battle of Britain. The stories of thosewho fought, and sadly often died, are
told through the largest collection of
Battle of Britain artefacts on show
anywhere in the world. This includes
excavated remains of more than 700
aircraft lost during the summer of
1940, uniforms, flying equipment,
medals, fine art prints and original and
replica aircraft depicting many of the
machines that flew and fought during
the battle.
The collection is constantly growing,
with the acquisition of small and large
exhibits practically daily.
In February 2015, the museum
gained the Boulton Paul Association’s
superb Defiant full-size replica and, in
December 2017, a Bristol Blenheim
IV project (based on remains of four
Fairchild Bollingbrokes – Canadian-
built Blenheims). Very soon another
rare example of a Battle of Britain
aircraft will be added to the collection- keep an eye on Britain at War’s
news pages for a special announcement
in due course!
RIGHT
Pilot Officer Keith
R Gillman in 1940.80-82 MUSEUMS BAW SEPT2019.indd 80 15/08/2019 15:33:51