Battle of Britain Talks

In commemoration of the 74th anniversary of the Battle of Britain the museum will be hosting three very special lectures by Military Historians; James Holland, Peter Caddick-Adams and Stephen Bungay.

Each lecture will look at a specific area of the Battle of Britain, giving an overall insight into the events that took place on the 15th September 1940:

Stephen Bungay: The Girls in Blue – The WAAF in the Battle of Britain
11.30 to 12.30 in the Museum Lecture Theatre

The difference that made the difference in the Battle of Britain was Fighter Command’s unique Air Defence System.

Many of the jobs in it were carried out by members of the WAAF. They were the first women in any military organisation to be placed in what was effectively the front line.

Stephen Bungay will talk about who they were, what they did and why it mattered.


James Holland: The Battle of Britain - Myth & Reality
13:00 to 14:00 in the Museum Lecture Theatre

In this talk, James Holland takes a fresh look at one of the most iconic episodes in British history, examining the story that has been passed down into folklore and assessing the performance of both sides.

In so doing he will be asking whether Britain’s victory in the summer of 1940 was even more comprehensive and significant than perhaps is widely thought.

Peter Caddick-Adams: Blue and Grey - Command in the Battle of Britain
14:30 to 15:30 in the Museum Lecture Theatre

Peter Caddick-Adams will contrast the operational commanders, Dowding and Goring, and examine how concepts of leadership within the two opposing air forces were quite different.

The Public Opening of the ‘Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus; A Life of a Pioneering Aviator’ exhibition
16:00 to 17:00 in the Museum Lecture Theatre

Daniel Albon, curator of the ‘Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus’ exhibition will give a free lecture to officially open the exhibition to the public. This hour long lecture will feature footage from the Battle of Britain film and a personal tour of the exhibition which opens on 14th September 2014.

Sir Alan Cobham was a pioneering long distance aviator and technical innovator who became famous for his exploits in the interwar years by making aviation accessible and popular throughout the world. This talk will highlight Sir Alan Cobham’s life and achievements and also explore how he inspired countless pilots to join the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

TICKETS
Full price: £17.00 per person plus a 50p booking fee (allows entry into all three lectures and guaranteed entry to the public opening of the ‘Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus’ exhibition)
Child: £12.00 per person plus a 50p booking fee (allows entry into all three lectures and guaranteed entry to the public opening of the ‘Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus’ exhibition)
Use the code: BOBEVENT when purchasing tickets to receive a £2 discount. Please note: this offer is only valid on the full ticket price of £17.00 and will expire on 31st July 2014.
Individual tickets: £6.00 per person plus a 50p booking fee (entry into individual talks only)

MEMBERS
Are you a member of the RAF Museum? If so, you’re eligible for a £3.00 discount on the Battle of Britain talks. Just type BOBMEMBER into the promotions box when purchasing your ticket.

Please note: this offer is only valid when buying the full priced ticket. Those who purchase a ticket using a membership discount may be asked to show their membership card upon arrival. The discount will be valid until the 14th September 2014.