What could be done to make East Kirkby even better?

Knock down the chicken sheds

I would have thought the more Chicken Sheds the better, afterall, isn’t it the Panton’s successes with the Chicken business amongst other things that has allowed them to do the wonderful things at East Kirkby which we enjoy today 😉

I think re-enactors are okay but the reality is that it’s a portrayal and that’s all of wartime aircrew. Examine any picture taken of re-enactors and compare with wartime shots of physically and mentally exhausted men and there is a large difference . There is a big difference between being there at the time and the reality of now where the biggest concern of a reenactor might be the traffic on the M11!

That at least clears that one up.

It’s classed as a strip.

It is not licenced.

No Air Traffic Service Unit (ATSU) exists.

Moggy

re

Actually that sounds like a good move to me. Also add radio chatter as in the Ops Room at Duxford.

I thought they allready have? The real thing with relay from the a/c outside would be fantastic, allthough I have asked before without any answers, as to what atc facilities does EK have and is it classed as an operational aerodrome?

I would definitely give my time free of charge at events like that if I had the time to be involved in re-enactments at all. I just wish I had.

Some of the suggestions would place a heavy expense on the daily running, and might not make financial sense over a long period.

Maybe they could plan a limited number of reenactment weekends, where people could book their time-journey in advance.

East Kirkby could then ask reenactors to be involved (unpaid, as they surely would jump at such a chance) along with various WWII machinery.

I’m not talking about an airshow style event, but a sat/sun where East Kirkby is transformed into a wartime base and a limited number of paying visitors could expirence the full atmosphere.

Maybe ending with a social event (music and dance) and a good nights sleep in period housing (those of you that already live in period housing can drive home 😉 ).

This way everyone wins – East Kirkby remains unchanged, BUT there is a chance to get the full expirence.

Actually that sounds like a good move to me. Also add radio chatter as in the Ops Room at Duxford.

re

I was a bit disappointed by the control tower. I realize that the exhibit needs to be protected from sticky fingers, but the metal mesh I found very obtrusive. It was also a bit dark and gloomy. I first saw the control room on Most Haunted, (yes..I know) and it looked a whole lot better when it was opened up and lit for them.

Downstairs, the atmosphere is amazing. Cant say I like those steel barriers, they dont need to be that high either. I’d love to view the tower at night with reenactors at work, that would be eerie, especially with just Jane doing a night run outside.

Been awhile since I have ben there can you tell? Last time I was there they did not have a van but had a nice gift shop tea room/cafe.

A Dakota and the assualt glider projects Horsa would be good to commemorate the strong links of the surrounding area with the 1st British Airborne division prior to Arnhem.

I was a bit disappointed by the control tower. I realize that the exhibit needs to be protected from sticky fingers, but the metal mesh I found very obtrusive. It was also a bit dark and gloomy. I first saw the control room on Most Haunted, (yes..I know) and it looked a whole lot better when it was opened up and lit for them.

How about a Naffi van for a cup of tea and a rock wad? I know they have a tea room there.

re

Do you mean Bomber Command, or Battle of Britain hall? If you mean the Bomber Command hall, this is the only ‘tarting up’ planned for it at the moment

Typing error, I meant Battle of Britain Hall. I like the bomber hall.

Another flying Lancaster would be the perfect addition to the museum 🙂

A terrific appraisal in your other post moggy, but like a few others I would like to see EK remain more or less as it is. I can understand your euphoria after your recent taxy ride:), I felt the very much the same after my ride in her.

There is a fine line that should not be crossed at EK. At the moment superficial things could be done to improve the days experience slightly. But unless additional ‘atmospheric’ displays are ultra-high tech, then the risk of tackyness could arise.

If it were possible to see on a small scale the preparation for a night bombing mission, then that could go some way to explain to people what went on on a bomber station during those times.
The armourers job, a laden bomb trolley underneath JJ with a demonstration of hoisting the various types of ordnance into the bomb bay.

The equipment store, watching a crew member kitting out for the flight. Follow the crew into the briefing hut and having a proper briefing with the audience sitting where the crews sat.
The taxy run, and on return the session with the Intelligence officer, over a cup of tea, but with so many of the chairs in the briefing hut marked with a red cross denoting the chaps who didnt return from that nights operations.
Little things like that with the right re-enactors, could help set the scene, and help the general public get a grasp of how things were for the RAF and Bomber command. No fancy simulators needed, just imagination;)

The idea of the two visits to the briefing room giving the difference in the numbers prsent at the pre-op briefing and the post-op debrief would drive home to the visitor the staggering ammount of crews lost in one night. Possibly with the subtle reminder that Bomber Command sometimes lost more crew members in one night than Fighter Command lost in the whole of the Battle of Britiain.
I know it is going a bit far but would be a graphic reminder just what a debt we owe to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Its a tourist attraction. Museums have to keep moving forward in order that when you go back there is somthing else too see.

I detest the idea of tarting up the BO hall at Hendon, but it will happen, most likely with a/c strung up from the roof.

Do you mean Bomber Command, or Battle of Britain hall? If you mean the Bomber Command hall, this is the only ‘tarting up’ planned for it at the moment

I agree that itis fine as it is, but feel that Just Jane’s fuel should be free or at least Govt subsided.:)

re

totally agree. Nothing wrong with adding what would have been there in the 1st place.

Knock down the chicken sheds
add rows of bomb trolleys with examples of various ordinance
Build another hanger to house more exhibits
Recreate a home front ack ack battery with gun pits/ search lights etc.
promote and house other WW2 British aircraft types (the spitfire has now left)

Very good museum already, just listed the above to compliment what’s been done already.