Aviation Heritage, Lincolnshire

The RAF Bomber Command had several airfields in and around Lincolnshire and they played an invaluable part in strategic bombing in Europe during WW2. 

20 minutes drive from the cottage is the village of Coningsby. A short distance from the centre of the town lies RAF Coningsby. It is the home of No. XI Squadron, No. 3 Squadron, No. XVII Squadron and No. 29 Squadron. It is also home to an important feature of Britain’s heritage, for it is here that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, formed in 1957 to commemorate the Royal Air Force's major battle honour is based; a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and a Dakota. These aircraft are no museum pieces as they are still flying and can be seen at a variety of air shows in the summer months.

At East Kirkby you can find the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. This is a family run museum.  It is now widely seen as a living memorial to the 55,500 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WW2.  It holds one of the rarest aircraft, an Avro Lancaster Bomber, in its collection along with many wartime vehicles including a Ford WOT1 Crew Bus, the only one of its kind known in existence.

The Avro Lancaster Bomber NX611 Just Jane, frequently performs four engined taxi runs (the only place in the world you can see this performed on an original airfield).  These are unique to the museum and the only place in Europe this is possible.