Your chance to see spitfire on display at Blackpool Airport

Fans of aviation history are being urged to visit a heritage collection on display at Blackpool Airport.
Pictured is John Coombes.Pictured is John Coombes.
Pictured is John Coombes.

The Lytham St Annes Spitfire Team Visitor Centre is open daily between 11am and 4pm until Sunday as part of a four-day promotion.

The museum, in Hangar 42 at the airport at Squires Gate, has previously only been open for a single day at a time.

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It boasts three spitfires, a hurricane and a collection of RAF military vehicles.

John Coombes, from the museum, said: “We are trying to raise awareness of the collection and raise funds for further improvements to the visitor centre.

“We have a number of refurbishment programmes we are undertaking and a desire eventually to have Hangar 42 open to the public all year round.

“Hopefully by opening during the school holidays we can engage the interest of more young people as well.”

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Admission for under-sevens is free but there is a suggested donation of £3 for adults.

For an additional donation people can also sit in one of the spitfires and have their photograph taken.

A number of successful open days have already been held this year with more than 80 people visiting the centre in February.

One of the projects the group is involved in is a bid to recover a Second World War bomber.

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The Wellington has lain on the sandy bed of the Aegean Sea since 1943 after being brought down on a mission over Greece.

The twin-engine medium bomber is one of the 3,842 Wellington Bombers built at Squires Gate between 1941 and 1945 by the Vickers company.

According to the website of the wreck diving company which found it, the aircraft is a Mark 13 Wellington shot down after a raid against enemy shipping.

It was apparently damaged by anti-aircraft fire and the crew, who all survived, had to ditch the Wellington at sea.

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