Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome to reveal new museum this Easter

A new museum will be opening on Good Friday at the Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome in Essex.

From Friday 25th March, groups will have the opportunity to learn about the aerodrome – which was once home to the 37 Home Defence Squadron – and its history through interactive exhibitions.

The new museum will provide an insight into the life on the aerodrome during World War One and feature examples of how a bedroom and the station armoury would have looked when the site was in operation., Visitors can also discover the history of the Women’s Royal Air Force at the site.

The history of the first blitz in London will also be covered in the displays, including the bombing of Poplar School in East London during 1917.

Visiting children, meanwhile, will have the chance to sit in a simulated World War One Sopwith 1½ Strutter, which was a British single or two-seat multi-role biplane aircraft.

Ivor Dallinger, honorary museum curator at Stow Maries, commented, “I am very proud of what our team has achieved. It has been a very intense few months as we wanted to create a fitting tribute to the men and women who served in 37 (Home Defence) Squadron during the Great War, and we hope that our visitors will enjoy it.”

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome was first established in 1916 as the base of the Royal Flying Corps 37 (Home Defence) Squadron, two years after World War One began.

As well as the new museum, the site also features a Squadron Museum, hangars of late production and replica World War One planes and a wartime café.

This year will also bring a programme of commemorative and informative activities and events, such as fly-ins and special events to commemorate the role of the brave servicemen and women of 37 (Home Defence) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

For more information visit www.stowmaries.org.uk.