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This section of the website displays photographs from Duxford's earlier history. As my own collection of early Duxford images is somewhat limited, I am pleased to be able to include many images kindly donated by fellow aviation enthusiasts. I have arranged the images in time order: The 2000s & 1990s pages includes more recent Duxford former residents. Earlier material is grouped by decade and covers Duxford in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Also photos taken during filming at Duxford of the classic movie "The Memphis Belle" during the summer of 1989, is given a page. The majority of images from the 50s to the 80s & Memphis Belle, incorporate scans from Tony Clarke's extensive slide collection.

To access the new page, just click on the image of your choice below: (and use the left hand navigation buttons to move on)

The 2000s at Duxford

The 1990s at Duxford

The 1970s at Duxford

The 1980s at Duxford

The 1950s at Duxford

The 1960s at Duxford

Filming of The Memphis Belle at Duxford

An Extremely Brief History Of Duxford Airfield

Duxford airfield began its history during the First World War. Building work on the new airfield began in October 1917. The first aircraft units to use the base, flew the DH9. The original hangars surviving to this day were completed during 1918-1919.

Between the wars, RAF Station Duxford was used initially as a training base. However, during the early 1920s its role was changed to that of a fighter station. Resident aircraft transitioned from Siskins and Grebes to Bulldogs and Gauntlets and in 1938, the first Spitfire arrived for service with 19 Squadron.

Duxford played a major role in the Battle of Britain, with Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons operating from the base. Other residents included night fighter Blenheims, Bell Airacobras and even a Messerschmitt 109E under evaluation.

In 1943, ownership was transferred to the United States Army Air Force. The 8th Air Force based their 78th Fighter Group at Duxford for the remainder of the war, operating first The P-47 Thunderbolt and finally the P-51 Mustang.

The RAF returned to the field in late 1945. Spitfires gave way to Meteors in late 1946. The concrete runway was built in 1950/51. Hunters arrived in 1957 and Javelins in 1958. RAF flying at Duxford finished in 1961, with the exception of a glider training unit which flew until 1963. By this time the base was in a fairly poor state, with weeds and grass encroaching on the tarmac and runway.

Between 1963 and 1973, the future of the airfield was at great risk. Much of the filming for the Battle of Britain Film was carried out at (or over) Duxford during 1968. In 1971, it was agreed to enable use of the airfield by the East Anglian Aviation Society and the IWM, who needed storage space outside of their London site. Unfortunately, there were difficulties between the society and the IWM, which resulted in withdrawl of the former, to be replaced by a new organisation, the Duxford Aviation Society. In 1976, the joint collection of aircraft and vehicles was opened to the public on a daily basis.

In 1983, the Fighter Collection and Old Flying Machine Company moved into Duxford after agreement had been reached with the IWM.......... and the rest as they say is history.........