battle of britain and the blitz tour with back-roads touring co.

This tour is available at any time of the year for private groups.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP
Day One - Monday
We depart from central London at 08.30 and spend this first day in the sectors controlled by the 12 (Fighter) group, Duxford and Debden, part of the Hornchurch Sector. Leaving London, we head northwards into Essex, driving past what remains of the Hornchurch airfield and the more active Stapleford Abbots airfield. Our first main visit today will be at the North Weald Airfield and airfield museum. There's much to see here including the Squadron, airfield museum and the airfield church. Later, we'll visit Blake Hall which housed the ops room for North Weald. Next, to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford that houses the finest collection of military aircraft and which was, of course, a USA airforce base in WW2. We'll also be visiting the mediaeval university city of Cambridge before turning north.	Oakham, Rutland
Day Two - Tuesday
North of Cambridgeshire, in Digby and Wittering Sectors, we can visit RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is renowned as the 'Home of the Royal Air Force' and on the North Kesteven Airfield trail there's much to rediscover. A particular highlight, however, will be our visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight base at RAF Coningsby. The Flight operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and a Dakota. It is possible to view these still-flying aircraft and watch the technicians at work.	as above
Day Three - Wednesday
We make our way back to London. An undoubted highlight of the day will be our visit to Bletchley. It was here that the Germans 'uncrackable' Enigma Code was broken, allowing the allies to read Axis wireless traffic. The house holds some fantastic and fascinating exhibits. Later, as we near London, we'll pass the Stanmore Fighter Command HQ, visit Hughenden Manor (war time arial map making and photo research centre) , and the Uxbridge Fighter Group HQ, in addition to seeing Northolt Airfield. A fitting, and memorable climax to our day, will be visiting the superb RAF memorial to the missing at Egham. From the top of this unique, and surprisingly little-known monument, you can see over five English counties. Dinner is not included tonight.	London
Day Four - Thursday
The southern Hornchurch Sector of Kent is the subject of today's explorations. We have three main visits - to the Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge, to the memorial at Capel-le-Ferne and to the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial at RAF Manston. There'll be guided tours at each destination and the Manston houses fine examples of a Spitfire TB752 and Hurricane LF751. The Hornchurch Sector covered the county of Kent, over which many dogfights took place, and we'll be seeing some splendid scenery as we drive through and pinpointing some of the crash sites and the later V1 and V2 rocket targets (over 1400 of which fell on Kent). We'll also be seeing Dover and its famed 'white cliffs'. Dinner is not included tonight.	as above
Day Five - Friday
London Day We first visit Westminster Abbey to view the beautiful stained glass window dedicated to the pilots of Fighter Command. Then to the RAF church of St Clement in the Danes. We'll also visit Churchill's War Cabinet rooms and experience what it was like sitting in a bomb shelter during the blitz in a fascinating war museum. There will also be time for a visit to the Imperial War Museum for those who wish it. Accommodation: not included but you are dropped at any central London accommodation of your choice. We can arrange accommodation for those who would like us to do so.