Interactive Display – Counting Them Home

On Thursday 24th May I attended Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s launch event at the BBMF Visitor Centre at RAF Coningsby, for a new interactive display called ‘Counting Them Home’. This is a transportable unit that is going to be moved around the various AHL partnership sites.

It is simple to operate but it is also very thought provoking and details about it are outlined in the ANL news release below. Last week a couple of people managed to get round all 6 pods, but were then quite surprised to be told that this constituted just ‘One Op!’

“Counting Them Home
– An Interactive Display Launched by AHL

A central theme of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire’s (AHL) business plan is innovative interaction with the schools, education establishments and voluntary-led young people groups across Lincolnshire. On Thursday 24th May 2012 the latest innovative element in this plan, an interactive display called Counting Them Home was formally launched at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre at RAF Coningsby.

Officer Commanding Designate, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason undertook the first ‘Official Op’ on Counting Them Home and his immediate reaction to the interactive display was, “This is exactly what we need to impart the story in a simple way to the younger generation!”

AHL is funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) award of £436,000 and AHL’s remit is to work with various venues to raise the profile of aviation heritage in the county, and promote aviation within schools and colleges. The Counting Them Home interactive display is based around a Lancaster, with a seasoned crew, departing an airfield in Lincolnshire and completing a raid over occupied Europe.

Around the interactive display there are six pod stations that have to be successfully ‘navigated’ before the crew can return home safely. The game can be played by up to six people at any one time and is suitable for young people and families. Official statistics were incorporated into this mechanically operated display module to simulate losses at all stages of the raid – from take-off; coastal flak; night fighters; and anti-aircraft fire.

The Counting Them Home interactive display is fully transportable and at different times of the year it will be relocated to different sites in the AHL partnership. Bookings have already been taken for Counting Them Home to be used at the following AHL sites:

Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre 9th – 10th June 2012
RAF Wickenby Memorial Museum 16th – 17th June 2012
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Centre 1st – 31st July 2012
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre 15th September 2012

“The introduction of Counting Them Home provides another exciting opportunity for Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire and its partner sites to interact with Lincolnshire’s young people and their families.” Commented Dave Harrigan AHL’s Outreach and Learning Officer (O.L.O), he continued. “The interactive display is very thought provoking and details all aspects of a typical World War II bomber op.”

He concluded, “As well as skill, an element of luck has been incorporated into Counting Them Home, because all crews needed a pinch of that to help them survive.” ”