A splendid 1940s American Day was held recently at the famous Woodford Aerodrome, south of Manchester, for many years the home of A. V. Roe. Opened just after the First World War, it was an important production base for military aircraft during the Second World War and after. Planes made there included the Avro Anson, Avro Lancaster, Avro Shackleton and Avro Vulcan. It closed in 2011, and is now the site of a massive housing development. The airfield’s history is still celebrated in an excellent small museum at the edge of the site – and on June 18th the museum organised a wonderfully nostalgic event that we hope will become an annual fixture.
The theme was everything 1940s and/or American – which allowed an eclectic mixture of displays by enthusiasts, with a particular emphasis on motor vehicles. Because the runway no longer exists, the only flying machines to arrive were two historic helicopters – including a genuine Huey from the Vietnam War period.
It was a very friendly event, enhanced on such a beautiful sunny day by such essential elements as an ice-cream van, a 1940s band, and an enormous shaded area provided by… the museum’s resident Avro Vulcan!
We hope that you will enjoy this collection of pictures and short captions from the day.
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