RAF Tangmere

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = Royal Air Force Tangmere


caption = Station Crest
dates =
country = United Kingdom
branch =
command_structure = No. 11 Group RAF
type = Flying station
role = Defence of London & South East Engand
size =
current_commander =
garrison = Tangmere, West Sussex, England
garrison_label =
ceremonial_chief =
ceremonial_chief_label =
colonel_of_the_regiment =
colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
nickname =
motto =
colors =
colors_label = Royal Air Force Ensign
march =
mascot =
equipment =
battles = Battle of Britain,
Evacuation of Dunkirk,
Preparation for D-Day,
Normandy Campaign
notable_commanders =
identification_symbol =
identification_symbol_label = Station crest
anniversaries =

RAF Tangmere was a Royal Air Force station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain, located at Tangmere village about 3 miles east of Chichester in West Sussex, England. American RAF pilot Billy Fiske died at Tangmere and was the first American aviator to die during World War II. Famous World War II ace Douglas Bader was a Wing Commander at Tangmere in 1941.

Present use

It is today the site for Tangmere Military Aviation Museum which has a replica Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane as well as many original aircraft, including Neville Duke's speed record Hawker Hunter. Also on display is the 'Star' Meteor flown by Teddy Donaldson when he set the World Air Speed Record in September 1946, also breaking the 1,000 km/h barrier. [Thomas, Nick. RAF Top Gun: Teddy Donaldson CB, DSO, AFC and Bar Battle of Britain Ace and World Air Speed Record Holder, Pen & Sword, 2008. ISBN-10: 1844156850]

Public Transport

Bus number 55 runs from Chichester bus station to the museum throughout the day, including Sundays.

References

ee also

* Royal Air Force station
* Battle of Britain Airfields
* Battle of Britain Squadrons

External links

* [http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/ Tangmere Military Aviation Museum]