Showing 1 to 10 of 12 search results
The Enigma Machine
Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940-1945, London, Hangar Five, 82/R/503
Engima was the trade name for the cypher machine used by the Germans to code their communications, the codes of which changed daily. British listening stations intercepted messages which were then passed to cryptographers at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park to decode.
Operations Room Projector
Aircraft & Exhibits, 1943-1945, London, Hangar Five, 1998/0189/I
The defence of German airspace was controlled from operations rooms or ‘battle opera houses’. Here, projectors were used to present an overview of the situation on a large map so that an overall defensive strategy could be directed.
Junkers Ju 87
Aircraft & Exhibits, 1943-1945, London, Hangar Five, 78/A/657
The Junkers Ju 87 two-seat dive bomber gained a fearsome reputation during the early years of the Second World War. Its innovative design included louvered dive brakes to ensure automatic recovery from its steep – and highly accurate – dive bombing attacks.
Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet
Aircraft & Exhibits, 1945, London, Hangar Five, 85/A/66
The Me163 Komet rocket was deployed by the Luftwaffe in a desperate attempt to combat the Allied strategic bombing offensive during the closing stages of the Second World War. It was the only rocket propelled interceptor ever to be used operationally. It was not as successful as expected, only shooting down nine Allied aircraft for a loss of 14 Komets.
Messerschmitt Bf 110 Recognition Model
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 75/M/245
This is a German-made model of a Second World War Bf 110 used to train aircrew, particularly pilots and gunners, in the vital skill of aircraft recognition. It was made by Wiking, a model company still in existence.
Tripod for Flak Binoculars
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, X008-7076
Flak binoculars were used during daylight to identify aircraft and provide initial heading information for German anti-aircraft artillery.
FuG 212 Airborne Radar Indicator Unit
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 1995/0922/R
The German Air Force started to deploy radar equipped night fighters during 1941. In 1943, an improved model of the Luftwaffe’s Lichtenstein radar, the Funkgerät (FuG) 212, was introduced. The indicator enabled the radio operator to guide the fighter to within visual range of Allied aircraft.
Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft War Badge
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 66/U/941
Originally devised as qualification badges for aircrew, the use of some trade badges became linked to combat experience. The Anti-Aircraft Badge was awarded according to a points system reflecting the types of engagements that individual had undertaken.
Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp (Gold)
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, X004-0867
The Luftwaffe introduced flying clasps as a way of acknowledging an aircrew’s operational experience. A bronze clasp represented 20 operational flights, silver 60 and gold 110.
Female Flak-Helper’s Arm Badge
Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 1986/0591/U
By 1943 a lack of manpower led the Luftwaffe to turn to auxiliary forces for personnel to operate their flak and searchlight defences. These included female auxiliaries, schoolchildren aged 16 and Russian prisoners of war willing to help in exchange for better conditions.
Filter results by: Hide filters
Department hide filter
Type show filter
Associated with hide filter
- German Air Force (1933-1945)
- German Army [2]
- German Navy [2]
- 6 Maintenance Unit (RAF) [1]
- Junkers Flugzeug Und Motorenwerke [1]
- Ministry of Technology [1]
- Pt Off Anthony Edwin Hayward [1]
- Rocket Propulsion Establishment [1]
- Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Farnborough [1]