The Dowding Memorial Hangar

The Dowding Memorial Hangar was erected by the Museum in tribute to Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, C-in-C Fighter Command during the dark days of the Battle, when Britain stood alone. The hangar contains three full-size replica Messerschmitt Bf 109E's from the epic 1968 film "The Battle of Britain", an original Granau Baby Glider, a type of glider that many Luftwaffe pilots trained on prior to the Second World War, and ten Daimler-Benz Aero engines recovered from Luftwaffe aircraft, including the first and last Messerschmitt Bf 109's to crash on British soil in 1940.

The substantial remains of the Messerschmitt Bf 109E flown by Oberleutnant Ulrich Steinhilper of JG 52, as well as wings recovered from the Messerschmitt Bf 109's flown by Lieutenant Erich Meyer of JG 51, Feldwebel Ernst Hempel of JG 53 and Oberleutnant Kurt Dähne of JG 26, can be seen.

Also as you visit this building, you will see two examples of Spitfire wings from aircraft flown by the then Flight Lieutenant Ian Gleed of No.266 Squadron and Flying Officer Robin 'Bubble' Waterston of No.603 Squadron, and examples of the 40mm Bofors Gun, 3.7" Ack Ack Gun, Searchlights, Link Trainer and three types of Air Raid Shelters.

A recent addition to the display are several lengths of British Pipemines recovered from Hawkinge Airfield in 1999, together with a range of German Bombs of the types that were commonly dropped on the airfield and targets throughout the British Isles, during the Battle of Britain.

All exhibits include detailed research and photographs to personalise each and every display you see and read.