Wings and Wheels etc Joint Bushey & Radlett U3As

Carpet Bagger Museum– Harrington !

Thursday 18th July 2019 harringtonmuseum.org.uk/

This will include an intro Video and Guided tour.

We will go to the Pub www.coachandhorsesbrixworth.co.uk/ for lunch about 1.45pm and leave for home about 3pm

Coach, tip and entry ticket: = £ 18.00 pp

Departures from: Bushey - Village pond 9.00 am Bushey Heath - Elstree Rd opp 3 Crowns 9.05 Radlett – Old Post Office 9.20

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Museum of Army Flying visit. Thursday 18th July 2019

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Pick up points: Bushey Village Bushey Heath Radlett (Circle one)

Harrington Air Museum

https://harringtonmuseum.org.uk

U3A trip info

We will have a video intro then a guided tour with free time to explore. As refreshments are limited we will be going to a pub a few miles away for lunch before returning home. Sandwiches, 2 course lunch offer at £7.95 etc available with real Ale ! Pub www.coachandhorsesbrixworth.co.uk/

Information below re museum and reviews.

The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum was formed in 1993 for the 50th Anniversary reunion of the USAAF’s 801st / 492nd Bomb Group (The Carpetbaggers) at Harrington. It is housed in the Group Operations Building on the Administration Site of the former Station 179 airfield at Harrington, Northamptonshire, .

Displays and exhibits within the museum depict the history of the airfield and vividly show the work carried out by the 801st (Provisional) / 492nd Bomb Group, especially during , and their secret missions to deliver agents and supplies to resistance groups in Occupied Europe during the Second World War Other exhibits and displays include the secret work of the British Special Operations Executive from their RAF base at ; the cold war roles of the airfield at Harrington with the Thor rockets; and the .

CARPETBAGGER SECRET WARFARE MUSEUM

Housed in the original Group Operations Building on the site of USAAF Station 179, the CARPETBAGGER AVIATION MUSEUM offers a rare look at life on the top secret base of the 801st / 492nd American Bomb Group during World War II

Pick up Lysander aircraft as operated by the RAF’s 161 Squadron from the Tempsford and Tangmere airfields

Photographs, maps, exhibits and unique film footage describe the secret missions flown by Harrington airmen dropping agents, weapons and supplies to resistance groups throughout Occupied Europe

Vickers Wellington , also known as the ‘Wimpey’ these were based at Harrington when it was used as a satellite station to RAF Desborough Oct 1943—March 1944

Other displays show the vast secret agent and supply net- work masterminded by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) and operated from RAF Tempsford. The story of the Royal Observer Corps and the Cold War role of the Thor missile base at RAF Harrington are also fully described

Welbike folding motorcycle used by parachutists during World War 2 on display in the museum

The last Thor missile leaving RAF Harrington in 1963. Thor missiles were the first British nuclear deterrent and were based at Harrington with the 218 (SM) Squadron from 1959—1963

British Mosquito in American markings at Harrington in early 1945. These were used in the Red Stocking / Joan- Eleanor missions that were carried out from Harrington

Wheelchair access to main exhibition rooms. Light Refreshments & souvenirs

Some recent reviews 9 months ago Brilliant little museum, packed full of interesting artefacts. Well worth the drive down country roads to find. If you're interested in military history or World War 2 you'll really enjoy this. Only open weekends spring-summer-autumn. Will take you anything between half an hour and three hours to look around depending on your level of interest in the subject matter. Tea/Coffee biscuits available. Run by charming friendly people. A real labour of love. The USA should give these guys a medal for keeping the history of their brave boys alive.

8 months ago A true Gem of a museum. A brilliant guided tour really puts you back in time. So many fascinating artefacts and displays. Remember to visit the memorial and see the remains of the runways.

7 months ago This is a "must see" for anyone interested in clandestine operations of WWII . The operations and other structures are maintained in similar conditions and original settings to the period, very unassuming on the outside, and well presented on the inside. A true step back in time. I simply cannot thank the volunteers of this museum enough for the hospitality I received at the Museum. Thank you Fred West for the great tour and Roy Tebbut for all the information regarding my Uncle Bill (John William Walch). I cannot wait for my next visit.