Flying icons from the Second World War were amongst the exhibits young visitors from West Norfolk primary schools were able to take a close look at when they saw planes of all types in the Duxford museum.

Children from Walpole Cross Keys, Clenchwarton and West Lynn primary schools even had the chance to try on uniforms at the former base in Cambridgeshire, now part of the Imperial War Museum.

Year 6 pupils at all three schools have been studying the Second World War and the Battle of Britain Gallery at the museum ensured they could see a Spitfire and Hurricane close-up. There is also a crash-landed Messerschmitt as part of the exhibition.

“The children were really interested in finding out about the planes involved in the Battle of Britain and even some that featured in the Pearl Harbour attack. 

“We saw all the big-name planes and quite a few more modern ones, including Concorde. The children also enjoyed trying on some RAF uniforms and using the interactive devices to find out more about the exhibits and listening to information on the telephones on different stations,” said Billy Overton, Assistant Headteacher at Walpole Cross Keys.

The group visited a historic hangar, which houses the WWII exhibition, that was once home to the first operational Spitfires and the US 78th Fighter Group.