UNIQUE EXHIBITION CELEBRATES BATTLE OF BRITAIN HEROES

THOSE iconic Second World War fighter aircraft the Hurricane and the Spitfire have been brought together in a unique exhibition which keeps alive memories of the Battle of Britain.

Called The Battle of Britain Experience, the exhibition celebrates the lives and work of two top flying aces, Bob Stanford-Tuck, who downed 30 enemy aircraft, and Adolph "Sailor" Malan, who was credited with at least 27 kills.

Created by Rex Cadman, organiser of the War and Peace Show, and former travel company executive Mark Hatfield, the mobile exhibition features life size replicas of the aircraft. There is also a display trailer set up to tell the story of the Battle of Britain and the heroic role played by Stanford-Tuck and Malan.

 "We have created this exhibition because we believe it's vital that the men and women who fought the Battle of Britain should never be forgotten," said Rex Cadman. "If they had not risked their lives in those turbulent days of 1940, the War might have had a completely different outcome. And we should never forget that many did not survive."

 "We intend to offer the exhibition for display at agricultural shows, air shows, military events and exhibitions throughout the South East," said Mark Hatfield, who lives near Paddock Wood. "Of course it has particular relevance for Kent because so much of the Battle of Britain was fought over this county. It will also be available for schools to really bring home the lessons of the Second World War."

The fibreglass aircraft replicas have been built specially for the Battle of Britain Experience.

The Hurricane is to be painted in the colours of Bob Stanford-Tuck, who began his combat career flying Spitfires. He first saw enemy action over Dunkirk in May 1940 when he shot down three enemy planes.

In August that year he bailed out over Tunbridge Wells after his aircraft was damaged in an exchange of fire with dive bombers. A week later his engine was damaged after he attacked a Dornier off the Kent coast, but he managed to glide back to safety.

Stanford-Tuck was later sent to command a Hurricane squadron and was at first put off by the aircraft which he described as a "sturdy carthorse".

After his first combat mission, however, he reversed this view. "It had not a vice in its whole make up," he said.

After being shot down over France Stanford-Tuck spent three years as a Prisoner of War, but escaped on New Year's Day 1945. His decorations include the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two bars.

The Spitfire pilot celebrated is Adolph "Sailor" Malan, a South African who commanded No. 74 Squadron at Biggin Hill. By revising the attack formations of his squadron he turned it into one of the most successful of the War. Malan was personally credited with 27 kills, seven shared and 16 aircraft damaged.

He remained active right through the War and on D-Day led a Free French fighter wing over the beaches of Normandy. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Bar and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.

After the War, Malan became involved in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

The Battle of Britain Experience will be on display at The War and Peace Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, from 20 to 24 July.