Rugby Aviation Group: Sywell Aviation Museum Opening for 2014 Season

On Easter Saturday, 19 April 2014, the Sywell Aviation Museum re-opened its doors for the 2014 season with a special event attended and supported by a variety of people and organisations.

From the Rugby Aviation Group, apart from the author, David Smith and Chris Heath were in attendance for most of the day. We had hoped for warm sunny weather, if previous days had been anything to go by. But, despite it remaining dry, there was a cold and stiff north-easterly breeze blowing.

Peter Teichman displays Hurricane BE505

The first event of the day was the arrival of Peter Teichman in his Hawker Hurricane IIB BE505, which flies in the colours of RAF 174 Squadron and who flew in from his Hangar 11 operation at North Weald. On arrival the assembled crowd was treated to Peter's expertly executed display, showing the aircraft from all angles. Peter has close links with Sywell and the museum, but more about that later.

Peter Teichman posing for the cameras in front of BE505

Following the landing there was a brief photo opportunity when the sun was out, as exemplified by the picture to the right, which was accompanied by rapturous applause from the crowd.

Andy Shemans addresses the gathered crowd

The formal part of the opening ceremony was presided over by Andy Shemans, chairman of the museum, who explained that the theme for this year was centred around EFTS6, which was based locally during the Second World War to train, amongst others, the Free French.

The unveiling of the memorial

A few years ago the museum created a memorial to those that served and were killed defending this nation. That memorial, shown on the left covered by an RAF ensign, was later unveiled by two ladies, one English, one French and blessed. That was followed by the laying of two wreaths, one on behalf of the museum, the other on behalf of the aerodrome.

The laying of the wreaths

Then there was an address by a veteran squadron leader who spoke those well-known words "...we will remember them". There was a bugler and the sound of "The Last Post" prior to a two-minute silence and "Reveille" to end the silence.

Romer Adams accepts the presented cap on behalf of the museum

What followed next was a brief story, told by Romer Adams, of an incident that took place near Daventry during the recovery of some B-17's following a raid on Germany, where two of the returning aircraft hit aerials, the first aircraft making it safely back to Shelveston, the second sadly crashing, killing its crew. The latter hit the G aerial knocking out the G navigation system in the whole of the UK for fifteen minutes.
In the above picture Romer is holding the cap of one of the crewmembers that perished in the crash and which was presented to the museum by the son of the man who found it on the crash site, just hours after the fateful event. The cap was placed in a specially built glass display case that is now on show inside the museum.

Andy presents Peter with his certificate

The official morning's proceedings were brought to an end by Andy Shemans, who made a presentation to Peter Teichman. The first part of the presentation was a gift to complete Peter's Spitfire consisting of a box containing some 20mm cannon shells. But it was the second part that was the real objective, which was to present Peter with a certificate of honorary membership of the Sywell Aviation Museum, something he evidently appreciated very much.

In his final address Andy thanked all those that had helped to make the day possible and declared the museum officially open for the 2014 season.

The locally based Great War Aircraft Display Team performed a practice display and below are some images from that practice. Conditions were marginal as it was rather blustery.