Teddy Cooper, born 1925
Aircrew are understandably suspicious. Many carry charms or undertake rituals in the belief that these will help protect them. This bear was the companion of Flight Sergeant …
Period: WWII
Volkswagen Beetle
Production of the “People’s Car” began briefly in 1939 but stopped during the Second World War (1939 – 1945). Major Ivan Hirst of the British Army restarted …
Focke Wulf FW190A-8/R6
The FW190A-8 was a fighter-bomber version of the ‘Butcher Bird’, and was produced in greater numbers than any other sub-type. This variant was very effective in combat …
Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI
The Spitfire XVI was the last major version of the Spitfire to be powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin before introduction of the RR Griffon powered variants. Externally …
Engine – Nakajima Sakae (Prosperity) 21
This Japanese, 950 hp, 14-cylinder, two-row, air-cooled radial engine was used extensively during the Second World War and powered the Mitsubishi A6M5 ‘Zeke’, Nakajima J1N1 and J1N1-S …
Engine – Rolls-Royce Merlin 28 12-Cylinder
The engine on display is one of the marks of Merlin fitted to bomber aircraft. It is representative of all the Merlins used in bomber, fighter and …
Engine – Wright R-3350-59 Cyclone
The Wright Cyclone series of aviation engines began life in 1924 as a 435hp single-row radial. By 1936 the series had progressed to development of the giant …
Scheufeln Taifun (Typhoon)
This unguided rocket was mass-produced in 1945 and used in conjunction with more conventional Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA). The weapon design was initiated by Scheufeln (a range officer …
USA Lightweight Torpedo Mk43
This torpedo was used by crews to practice their skills. It contained a dye to mark its progress and weights were jettisoned at the end of its …
Rheinmetall Borsig Rheinbote
Although unguided, this was the first multi-stage missile to be used in warfare. The Rheinbote’s powerful first stage delivered 38,000kg (83,774lb) thrust for just 1 second, to …
Ruhrstahl Kramer X4
The X4, was developed as an Air-to-Air Missile (AAM), although its use of wire guidance paved the way for modern anti-tank missiles, which often used wire guidance …
RAF Lightweight Torpedo Mk30
This is a passive anti-submarine weapon which reaches a speed of 19 knots and carries a 45kg (100lb) warhead activated by a proximity fuse. The acoustic head …
Rheinmetall Borsig Feuerlilie (Fire Lilly)
The F55 was the last stage of a surface-to-air missile project. The project aimed to research the aerodynamic and propulsion principles required for an effective surface-to-air missile. …
Henschel HS293
Development of the Henschel 293 began in May 1940; the research led by Professor Dr Herbert A Wagner. The HS293 was designed as a glider bomb based …
Holzbrau-Kissing Enzian (Gentian Violet)
Work on the Enzian Surface-to-Air Missile began at Messerschmitt AG in 1943. Designed by Dr Herman Wurster, the missile layout owed much to the aerodynamic principles of …