The Wings Museum is the only place in Europe where visitors can see aircraft which have been recovered from the Russian front battlefields where they were shot down over 70 years ago.
These rare warbirds are displayed in crash dioramas to represent the actual crash sites.
Read about the last battles of World War Two fought between the Russians and the Japanese. These “forgotten” battles were still raging even after the formal signing of the surrender was made aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2 1945.
Lend-lease Bell P-63 Kingcobra – Soviet Air Force
Friend and Foe now face one another head on in the Ghosts of the Tundra Hall.
See a representation of the abandoned airfield where six Bell P-63 Kingcobras were recovered.
Hear the sounds of wartime Russian folk music playing in the distance while a P-63 Kingcobra starts and warms up prior to another flight over the Kurile Islands in 1945.
Nakajima B5N2 Kate – Imperial Japanese Navy
The Nakajima B5N2 Kate which recently featured in “Flypast Magazine” can be seen opposite the Kingcobra. Set on a “beach” scene complete with the sounds of seagulls flying overhead, these impressive remains give a totally unique opportunity to see the aircraft that was made famous during the attack on Pearl Harbor. This aircraft had a long service career and bears many battle scars. It was manufactured in 1942 and later participated in the attack on Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Campaign.
Inside the Kate
Lend-lease Douglas A-20 Boston / Havoc – Soviet Air Force
This once mighty medium bomber can be seen in a “forest” diorama depicting the site where it crashed over 60 years ago. Ghostly reminders of those past battles can still be seen in the form of bullet strikes on the propeller blades and holes in the rear fuselage from 20mm cannon fire. See the now faded American Star and Bar adorning the fuselage and wonder what it would have been like to have been a crew member on board this aircraft during its final moments of flight.
Lend-lease Hawker Hurricane – Soviet Air Force
In our “Fighter Offensive” section can be seen the remains of a Soviet-operated Hawker Hurricane which battled against Hitler’s forces as he fought his way into Russia during Operation Barbarossa which began on 22nd June 1941. This bold attempt by Hitler proved to be too much, and some of fiercest aerial fighting of World War Two occurred on the Russian Front. This is evident from the numerous bullet holes which are still evident today.
Handley Page Hampden P1273 – Royal Air Force
In our “Bomber Offensive” section of the museum can be seen the remains of a rare Handley Page Hampden which was lost during a ferry flight in Russia in 1942. Read the Canadian Pilot’s story in his own words, and see the bullet holes that brought the aircraft down. You will be amazed at the courage and determination of the pilot and his crew as they endured a hail of fire by the attacking Bf 109.