27 December 2024 to 23 February 2025
IWM Duxford
Everyone
Free event with general admission
"Scramble!"
For RAF pilots in 1940, waiting outside dispersal huts across France and Britain, the shout of "Scramble!" was the signal to run to their aircraft, take off, and engage the Luftwaffe in a battle for the skies.
Pilots would be expected to fly multiple sorties a day, despite physical and mental exhaustion and the constant threat of being shot down, wounded, or killed.
IWM Duxford’s winter spotlight exhibition tells the story of the aircraft and aircrew who fought in the Battles of France and Britain over the summer of 1940. Explore the history of these two campaigns, see the aircraft up close, and discover the story of 'The Few'.
The Summer of 1940
Exhibition Highlights
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©IWMSupermarine Spitfire Mk Ia N3200
19 Squadron RAF
Flown by Squadron Leader Geoffery Stephenson, N3200's only operational sortie took place on 26 May 1940. After shooting down a Junkers JU 87 'Stuka', Stephenson was himself shot down, crash-landing his Spitfire on a beach near Calais. Stephenson was taken prisoner and N3200 remained on the beach, sinking into the sand until its recovery in 1986. After years of restoration, the Spitfire flew again in 2014.
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© IWMBristol Blenheim Mk IF L6739
23 Squadron RAF
Entering service the day after the Second World War began, most of the airframe used today is from a 1943 Canadian-built Bristol Bolingbroke, but the nose section is L6739's wartime original. While Blenheims were primarily used as light bombers, L6739 was flown as a night fighter. Scrapped at the end of the Battle of Britain, the aircraft was restored at Duxford to fly again.
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© Phil ChaplinHawker Hurricane Mk I P2902
245 Squadron RAF
Flown by Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan, P2902 was providing air cover over the beaches of Dunkirk when it was shot down in a dogfight with two Messerschmitt Bf 109s. McGlashan, wounded, managed to land his Hurricane on the beaches of Dunkirk. He returned to Britain with the evacuating troops, and fought in the Battle of Britain, surviving the war. P2902 was recovered and restored and flew again in 2017.
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Curtiss Hawk-75 No.82
1ére Escadrille, Groupe de Combat 11/5 Lafayette Armée de l’Air
An export version of the American-built P-36, the Curtiss Hawk-75 was the Armée de l'Air's most widely used fighter aircraft during the Battle of France. This Hawk-75 was one of the first 100 to be sent to France, flown by Commandant Murtin during the battle.
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© IWMSupermarine Spitfire Mk Ia X4650
54 Squadron RAF
Delivered to the RAF at the very end of the Battle of Britain, Spitfire X4650, flown by Sergeant Howard Squire, was lost in an air-to-air collision with New Zealand Battle of Britain Ace Alan Deere in December 1940. Squire and Deere both survived the incident. The restored Spitfire was recovered and restored, and featured in the 2017 film Dunkirk.
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©IWMHispano Aviación Buchón 'Yellow 10'
Representing a Messerschmitt BF109 E
When filming the 1969 war film Battle of Britain, 27 Hispano Aviación Buchóns were modified to represent Messerschmitt 109 Es, the principal Luftwaffe fighter flown in the battle.
The Buchón features a Messerschmitt airframe with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine, and 'Yellow 10' has been repainted in the scheme used in the Battle of Britain film. 'Yellow 10' has also represented a Messerschmitt in the films Valkyrie and Dunkirk.
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© IWMHawker Hurricane Mk I R4118
605 Squadron RAF
An aircraft with a remarkable history, Hurricane R4118 flew 49 sorties during the Battle of Britain, shooting down five enemy aircraft. After being damaged and repaired, R4118 was eventually relegated to training roles before being shipped to India. The aircraft was returned to Britain in 2001 and, following restoration, flew again in 2004.
Scramble! Events
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Scramble! Guided Tours
Adults £15 | Children £10
Take the rare opportunity to go 'behind the ropes' and learn more about the amazing history of the aircraft and aircrew who fought in the skies over France and Britain.
Joined by one of IWM's expert guides, you'll get up close to the aircraft and discover the stories behind the summer of 1940.
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Duxford in a Different Light: Scramble!
£50
Capture IWM Duxford's Scramble! spotlight exhibition in a different light.
Join us for one of our ongoing series of limited-availability photography events at our historic Duxford site. You will be able to photograph the 'Scramble!' Summer of 1940 Spotlight Exhibition at IWM Duxford, as well as all the aircraft in our AirSpace hangar.
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In the Cockpit: Supermarine Spitfire Mk I N3200
£50
Sit at the controls of an airworthy veteran of the Battle of France, Spitfire Mk I N3200. Join one of our expert IWM guides in a 45 minute tour and cockpit experience and get a sense of how Squadron Leader Geoffrey Stephenson would have felt climbing into the pilot's seat before flying this very aircraft over Dunkirk in 1940.
The Summer of 1940 on Film
The Battle of Britain and Battle of France have inspired multiple war films. Several aircraft featured in the Scramble! exhibition have played roles on screen, and Duxford itself was a key location in 1969's Battle of Britain, where a hangar was blown up during the 'Eagle Day' attack.
In the same film, the Hispano Buchón 'Yellow 10', playing the role of a Messerschmitt Bf 109, featured in many aerial 'dogfights'. 'Yellow 10' also saw action in Christopher Nolan's 2017 film Dunkirk, along with Blenheim L6739 and Spitfire X4650.
Behind-the-scenes footage showing the production of Battle of Britain at Duxford will be shown in Scramble!
Photography Hours
To allow better opportunities for photography, between 3pm and 4pm on the following dates the lights in Scramble! The Summer of 1940 will be turned up.
- Wednesday 1 January
- Friday 3 January
- Saturday 11 January
- Friday 17 January
- Sunday 26 January
- Friday 31 January
- Monday 3 February
- Saturday 8 February
- Thursday 13 February
- Monday 17 February
- Saturday 22 February
- Sunday 23 February
Entry to Scramble! The Summer of 1940 is included with your general admission ticket and is located in the Conservation Hall. Thank you to the private owners and IWM onsite partners who have helped bring Scramble! The Summer of 1940 together.
