Aerospace Bristol already shares 100 years of aviation innovation through both world wars. But now, the museum is working with our local communities to gather lesser-known stories to enhance their World War 2 exhibition as part of Aerospace Bristol’s VE 80 Commemoration Project.

Childhood memories of homemade ‘siren suits’ and the unspoken etiquette when searching for ‘souvenirs’ the morning after a night raid, of being suspended in the cockpit of a Bristol Bombay whilst dad has important wartime meetings in the hangar, of a first bicycle made from spare parts leftover from the war (image below right courtesy of Alan Tizzard).

Stories passed down through the generations telling of the medieval village of Charlton, before it was demolished to make way for the Brabazon runway and bullet holes on a cottage on Patchway Common, the building now long gone.

For more information about Aerospace Bristol, visit aerospacebristol.org

This project has been made possible with funding by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and awarded by Museum Development South West with thanks to support from Arts Council England.