Day Out At Duxford - Warbirds Take Flight

A few weekends ago I was lucky enough to get the chance to visit the annual airshow at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

B17 Flying Fortress 'Sally Bee"

I've been to Duxford many times before, though during my previous visits I'd never had any time to explore the museum as I was always working, so I was really excited to finally get a good look at everything, with the added bonus of seeing some of these amazing machines in flight!

A line up of Spitfires

It was a bit of a long day, not pre-booking a ticket meant a 5am wake up call to ensure we got one of the limited on the day tickets by the opening at 8am (even at seven there was already queues on the motorway, it was mental). I somehow managed to find time to smarten myself up for the occasion, its been ages since I set my hair as I've been feeling a bit off for the last few months, but it was about time despite a crack of dawn start to make a bit of an effort.

It reminded me, in my sleepy haze, just how much my freshly curled locks make me resemble Johnathan Creek which I found utterly hysterical, blame tiredness. After a bit of brushing I did manage to tame the curls into something less amusing, though my styling lasted about 15 minutes after exiting the car, airfields are windy (duh), so this is the only evidence of my efforts, at least I tried. 

Getting to the museum bright and early meant there was plenty of time to look at all of the packed to the rafters aircraft hangers before the majority of the visitors turned up, which meant it was lovely and calm.

Two Seater Trainer Spitfire

Air Space Hangar

Boeing Stearman Training Plane 

English Electric Lightening

After a spot of lunch, it was time for the show itself, now I wont bore you all my three million photos, most of which are just of dark specs against the sky, just my favourite parts, one of which was the majestic WWI display team which included a Fokker Triplane piloted by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, which certainly explained the plethora of Iron Maiden T-shirts which were being worn around the airfield! The aircraft were so slow yet elegant and graceful, it is hard to believe how much aviation evolved in the 20 years between the wars.

Fokker Triplane & BE2 replicas

WWI Dogfight

My main reason for going to Duxford, was actually to see the flypast of the only two flight-worthy Avro Lancaster's. I'd managed to miss them at all the other locations they were at over August so I was well aware this was my very last chance and I was not disappointed, it was an experience that I wont forget.

Avro Lancaster B Mk 1, Lancaster B Mk. X & their Spitfire escort

The weather which had been all blue skys and sunshine mere hours before had turned to thick grey cloud, I was initially irritated by this, but to be honest the heavy cloud seemed utterly appropriate and if anything added to the experience. When the announcement came over the tannoy that they were on there way, everybody was scanning the sky desperate to be the first to see them. As they came into view over the top of one of the hangars, the sound of their engines competed with the clapping of the crowd and rapid fire of cameras clicking in frantic unison to get a memento of the moment.

UK based Thumper and Canadian based Vera

Honestly it was a wonderful sight and the roar of the eight Merlin engines was incredible (I know the spitfires were there too so probably ten Merlin engines) I can confess to feeling a bit emotional and shedding a tear, daft I know but I had really, really wanted to see them, it was a once in a lifetime experience, like a little bit of time travel. I can only imagine the sound a whole squadron would have created impressive, yet terrifying.

Four Spitfires hove into view

Once I'd composed myself, erh-hum, there was plenty more to see. The only areoplane I had seen in all the times I had visited before, was the American Flying fortress B17 'Sally Bee' (see top photo) this time it took to the skies which was wonderful, also there was an simply amazing display from a tri-jet Boeing 727 which I was to flawed by to take any photos. Having deciding to leave a little early to avoid the traffic chaos, the last display of the day was from four Spitfires, tailed by a lone Hawker Hurricane.

Tail End Charlie - A Hawker Hurricane

By this time the sky had returned to its more turquoise hue, which illuminated their aerial acrobatics perfectly. It reminded me of the first time I saw a Spitfire fly when was a child, one flew over our back garden, I'm not sure how we knew it would be flying past, but we were all out cameras in hand. Somewhere I still have the spec of black on blue image I took that day. I was as mesmerised then as I am now, this time though I was able to get a few better pictures!

Duxford based Spitfire F Mk.Ia P9374

Supermarine Spitfire's 
The clipped wings increase the roll rate, which meant they were able to compete better with the Fokker 190.

As we walked back to the car park the Red Arrows were swooping, soaring and painting the sky red, white and blue, which was the perfect end to the day! I have to say it really was a fabulous trip, well worth the early start.  I've never been to an airshow before, so I wouldn't consider myself a plane spotter, though I do love an old Warbird, but it would be impossible not to find the sheer amount of aircraft on display simply breathtaking, I would heartily recommend a day out to Duxford to everyone!

Wendy x

The Home Front – Blackout Accessories

The clocks went back by an hour this weekend here in Blighty, which meant a lovely extra hour snuggled up in bed, sadly it also means as much as I hate to concede to it, the gloaming wintery nights and dreary early mornings will gradually be drawing themselves tighter around us over coming weeks, so I thought it would be the perfect time for  another Picture Post from the Imperial War Museums archive collection. This time, we are going to take a glimpse at what life was like during the wartime blackouts and see what precautions people could take to keep them safe and sound in the blackness.

Preparations for war had begun as far back as 1937 the Air Ministry predicted that if war was declared, Britain would be subjected to sudden night air attacks from Luftwaffe bombers, which would lead to high levels of civilian casualties and mass destruction to towns and cities. To counter this threat the government decided that if all man-made lights were extinguished, this would mean that the enemy who was identifying their targets using pre-war maps and up to date reconnaissance photographs would find it much more difficult to hit their intended targets as any identifying landmarks would be shrouded in the blackness. Blackout rehearsals became routine from early 1938, householders were told to check their homes for chinks of light while the RAF monitored the areas from above, these test showed that vehicle traffic was the main problem, even vehicles driven with just sidelights were still clearly visible from above and highlighted the road pattern below.

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To achieve this nationwide blackout it was necessary and a patriotic duty for every citizen to play their part. Ensuring that the rules were strictly followed was vital, so the home office appealed for 300,00 ‘citizen volunteers’ to be trained as A.R.P wardens to enforce the rules and impose fines to those who did not comply. So at sunset on the 1st of September 1939 two days before the official outbreak of WW2  the UK was plunged into complete utter darkness.

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Street lamps were extinguished, homes were fitted with blackout curtains and paint to ensure that no ambient light escaped from chinks in their windows, trains were fitted with dingy blue lights which made it barely possible to see your fellow passengers and because the stations were also blacked out it became increasingly difficult for passengers to determine firstly what station they were at, and secondly, which side of the train they need to alight to actually step on the platform. On the roads, vehicles were permitted to use lights as long as they were properly  covered with a metal hood, which only allowed thin slits of light to shine upon the approaching road and even the amber glow from a cheeky night time cigarette was banned. The people did what they were told and ‘put that light out’!

(Image Source)

A consequence of the new blackout regime was that road traffic incidents increased dramatically, so the government decreed that thick white lines must be painted on kerbs and lamp posts, but this proved to make little difference to the number of collisions. It's interesting to note that by the end of 1939 a mere three months into the war, a reported 4000 civilians had been killed in blackout related accidents, a sobering thought when during the same period in combat only 3 of the British Expeditionary force had been killed in action. In the Jan of 1940 the government relaxed the laws and allowed low powered torches -as long as the were covered with 3 layers of brown paper with a hole the size of a half-penny cut in the middle allowing only a tiny beam of light – to be used to hail buses by shining the torch on to you palm or feet, however, batteries supplies soon became scarce so eventually even this was no longer an option.

To make people feel a little safer during the blackouts the government urged pedestrians to ‘wear something white at night. Policemen were issued with white capes and shops had a run on white coats and macs as well as other accessories and it is at one such shop that we pick up today's Ministry of Information story at the ever so stylish blackout counter in Oxford Streets Selfridges.

A sales assistant, using a stuffed toy, demonstrates a blackout coat for dogs to a customer at Selfridge's department store in London. The coat would make sure that the dog was visible to car drivers and pedestrians during the dark nights of the blackout.

A female sales assistant helps a customer to choose a blackout collar at Selfridge's department store in London.The various styles available were an attempt to make the functional collars a bit more fashionable. The collars would help to ensure that the wearer was a bit more visible to cars and other pedestrians in the blackout.

A blackout walking stick on sale at Selfridge's in London's Oxford Street.
The light in the tip of the walking stick would illuminate the ground sufficiently for the user to see more clearly in the blackout, and to make the user more visible to pedestrians and vehicles. These walking sticks sold for 14/6.

A woman pins a luminous disc to her jacket lapel at Selfridge's department store in London.

These badges were to be worn in the blackout, as a way to make the wearer more visible to fellow pedestrians and motorists on the dark streets of the blackout. These discs were on sale for 2d per dozen.

A female shop assistant displays a white raincoat for use in the blackout. The colour of the fabric of the coat would mean that the wearer would be clearly visible to other pedestrians and to motorists in the dark streets of the blackout.

A display at Selfridge's department store in London advertises the various accessories available for use in the blackout.  Included here are two types of luminous armband, luminous discs and button badges, and luminous adhesive tape which could be added to the edges of clothing. The aim was to make the wearer more visible to pedestrians and vehicles in the blackout

A stand at in the umbrella department of Selfridge's department store in London displays a selection of blackout walking sticks.  These sticks were painted with luminous paint to make the user more visible to pedestrians and motorists on the darks streets of the blackout. These sticks sold for 2/6 each.

A luminous gas mask case on sale at Selfridge's department store in London. These gas mask covers were on sale for 2/11.

A woman pins a luminous flower onto her jacket lapel and consults her reflection at Selfridge's department store in London. These flowers were prettier than the plain button badges and luminous discs that were also available but did the same job: making the wearer more visible to other pedestrians and motorists on the dark streets of the blackout.

A woman looks at her reflection in a mirror as she examines a selection of blackout collars at Selfridge's department store in London. The various styles available were an attempt to make the functional collars a bit more fashionable. The collars would help to ensure that the wearer was a bit more visible to cars and other pedestrians in the blackout.

A shop assistant shows a customer a luminous flower in Selfridge's department store, London.
These flowers were one of numerous blackout accessories available in 1940 to make pedestrians more visible on the dark streets of the capital.

{All images and quoted text are taken from the Imperial War Museum's Image Archive}

At first people avoided going out at night, but once the winter drew in and the days became shorter it was harder for people to avoid, life must have been extremely difficult for those who had to navigate the streets at night, even with your snazzy new collar or illuminated cane, I don’t think that I would have felt much more at ease at all, it must have been quite an eerie let alone dangerous time, not only did you have the dangers in the dark to contend with there was also the little matter of the bombs!

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In case you fancy your very own blackout accessories, I have the perfect pattern for you taken from Home Notes November 1942, are these 'Safety First Gloves'. Knitted in a striking navy blue and white  combination, these snazzy gloves will ensure that you are not overlooked in a blackout!

Be safe, be seen!

Wendy x

Women in Wartime - A Girl Joins Up

Today it's time to give you another Picture Post from the Imperial War Museums archive collection.

The coming of WW2 saw a change in what society perceived as acceptable roles for women. Up until the war 'women's-work' had mainly been secretarial or shop work, training was generally not given as their job was considered to be only temporary, women were expected to leave work once they married, or had their first baby.

With the tide of men leaving, called on to join the armed forces, Britain was left with a huge labour shortage, these jobs needed to be filled and quickly, so where better to look, than the previously untapped workforce of women. The government assumed that women would naturally move into 'essential work' as they had during WW1, but by early 1941 there was actually an increase in unemployment amongst women. So for the first time in history, the government made it compulsory for women to enrol in ‘useful war work’. From April 1941 all women had to register at their local Employment Exchanges, and those aged  between 18 and 40 (later extended to 50) would be destined for war work. These jobs could be within the area where they currently lived, or in some cases when travel was too expensive relocation was necessary, it all depended on their 'Household Responsibilities'.

It is from the Governments Employment Exchange that we start today's photographic journey. Today we are following Vera Elliot, a young mother from Sunderland, as she responds to the call and takes part in a Government Training Scheme and is placed in factory work.

Vera Elliott volunteers at her local employment exchange for work in a war production factory. The employment officer gives her an introduction card to a factory needing new recruits.

Vera Elliott kisses her daughter Heather goodbye at Sunderland railway station as she sets off to start war work elsewhere in Britain, while her foster mother Mrs Smith looks on. Behind them, a soldier and several women wait to board the train which can be seen behind them as they stand on the platform.

Vera Elliott says goodbye to her daughter Heather and her foster mother Mrs Smith from the window of a train as she sets off from Sunderland railway station to begin her war work

At the entrance to Birmingham New Street railway station, Vera Elliott stands with other new arrivals for factory work as they are split into groups, with each group being sent to a different factory. A Ministry of Labour guide is in charge of each group.

Vera Elliott sits on a pile of suitcases in the entrance hall of the YWCA reception hostel where she and her fellow new recruits will spend the night. She is greeted by Miss Smart, the matron, who is leaning over the Bannister's to talk to Vera. Miss Smart runs the hostel with her sister.

Vera Elliott and her new friends travel by coach from the YWCA hostel where they spent the night, to the factory where they will be working. On the journey, they look out of the window at their new surroundings.

After a night at a YWCA hostel, Vera Elliott and her fellow new recruits arrive by coach at the factory where they will begin their war work. The recruits are met by Nurse Moriarty, the factory welfare officer, and are immediately taken to the factory canteen.

Upon arrival, Vera Elliott's ration book and identity card are checked in the factory welfare department.

Vera Elliott and a fellow new recruit to this factory are interviewed by a factory welfare officer to identify the most appropriate job for them to do.

After being assigned a job at this factory, new recruit Vera Elliott receives her new overalls from the storeroom.

Vera Elliott and another female war worker watch as the foreman of the workshop demonstrates the machine that Vera will be working on at this factory.

Vera Elliott is welcomed to her billet by her new landlady, Mrs Wright. Mrs Wright is originally from Ireland, is married to an electrical engineer and has two children. The letters 'SP' can be seen painted on the wall beside the front door, indicating that a stirrup pump is kept in the house and is available for use by fire watchers if necessary.

Vera Elliott sits down to a tea of sardines on toast, mustard and cress, bread and butter, and plain cake, which Mrs Wright has provided for her in the dining room of their home. A vase of tulips adds colour to the tea table.

Vera Elliott helps Brian and Betsy Wright, the children of her new landlady, to play with their wooden blocks in the garden of her new billet. She is soon known to them as 'Auntie Vera'.

Vera Elliott is up early to get ready for her first day at the factory. Here, she is brushing her hair in front of the mirror in the bedroom she has been given in the home of her new landlady Mrs Wright.

Vera Elliott at work on a large piece of machinery at a factory somewhere in the West Midlands.

All Images and quoted text are taken from the Imperial War Museums Archive Collection

I sadly have not been able to find any further information on Vera. I wonder what exactly 'Household Responsibilities' meant, with Vera having children of her own to look after you would have thought this would make her exempt from relocation, but apparently not. Not having children myself, I can only guess at how hard it would have been to say goodbye to you little ones during such a turbulent time, especially when you are staying with someone else children!

If you enjoyed this post then you might fancy looking through some my past Picture Posts, just click the tab at the top!

Wendy x