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Classic Warbirds

@classicwarbirds.bsky.social

890 followers 36 following 970 posts

Covering military aviation between 1930 and 1945. Profiling the aircraft, people and events that took place. Posts by Andrew Clayton https://www.classicwarbirds.co.uk

www.classicwarbirds.co.uk

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · Feb 20

Want more aviation content? Our website at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk has profiles on over 90 aircraft, a range of articles, a Battle of Britain timeline and a guide to aviation museums.

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 18h

Ken Crawley, Bomber Command veteran, has died aged 104.

▶️ www.memorialflightclub.com/blog/ken-cra...

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 18h

Vigil to mark 85 years since Coventry blitz.

▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 20h

#OnThisDay in 1945, the first fully navalised Hawker Sea Fury prototype flew. This was powered by a Bristol Centaurus XV engine.

Read our Sea Fury profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #aviation #history

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 20h

#OnThisDay in 1937, the first production Hurricane Mk I flew. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine, it had a top speed of 316 mph and a range of 525 miles.

Read our Hurricane profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #aviation #history

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in 1938 the Vickers Wellington entered RAF service when No. 99 Squadron at RAF Mildenhall received the first examples.

Read our Wellington profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #aviation #history

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 2d

#OnThisDay in 1936 the Handley Page Harrow prototype made its first flight. In total, 100 aircraft were built.

Read our Harrow profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #aviation #history

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 3d

What made this unusual was the fact that there was no such aircraft. The He 113 were Heinkel He 100s which had been photographed around Germany as different units. No combat action by the aircraft is thought to have taken place. #ww2

📷 He 100D Luftwaffe propaganda photo

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 3d

Heinkel He 113

Mentioned in a number of combat reports during the Second World War and also in the DFC citation for Flying Officer Brian Carbury, see www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue..., was an aircraft known as the He 113.

📷 He 113 illustrations from Air Publication AP1764

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 3d

Huge knitted WW2 exhibition goes on display.

▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 3d

WW2 Spitfire had to do emergency landing as engine stopped.

▶️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 3d

After crash landing in Jersey in 1942, Spitfire Mk VB (EN830) was recovered by the Luftwaffe. Fitted with a Daimler-Benz DB 605A engine, comparison tests against a Bf 109G were undertaken.

Read the story behind this Spitfire at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/articles/ger...

📷 luftarchiv.de

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 4d

#OnThisDay in 1940 Sergeant Josef Frantisek DFM died in a flying accident at the age of 27. He was serving with No. 303 Squadron at the time and with 17 victories was the highest scoring Allied Battle of Britain pilot.

➡️ bbm.org.uk/airmen/Frant... #ww2 #WorldWar2

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 4d

#OnThisDay in 1939 a Lockheed Hudson of No. 224 Squadron scored the first aerial victory of the Second World War by a UK based aircraft, shooting down a Dornier Do 18.

Read our Hudson profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 5d

New Duxford Resident.

P-51D Mustang 'Tall in the Saddle' has been sold by Hangar 11 and will be based at the #IWMDuxford.

The aircraft is painted in the colours of the 332nd Fighter Group, 99th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

📷 www.flickr.com/photos/dwhit...

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 5d

Shuttleworth have announced their airshow dates for 2026.

🟣 10th May - Season Premiere
🟣 30th May - Wings & Wheels Air Show
🟣 27th & 28th June - Festival of Flight
🟣 15th August - Flying Proms
🟣 29th August - Military
🟣 4th October - Race Day

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 5d

From early means of aircraft identification to Operation Starkey identification stripes and the Invasion Stripes painted on aircraft during D-Day, find out about the history of invasion stripes at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/articles/the... #ww2 #WorldWar2

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 6d

Shuttleworth Hangar Project 2025/26.

▶️ www.shuttleworth.org/discover/han...

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 6d

#OnThisDay in 1939 the Hawker Tornado Type R prototype made its first flight, it was powered by the 1,760-hp Vulture II engine.

Read our Tornado profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2

📷https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/tornado/first-prototype-tornado-p5219/

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 7d

Spitfire and Blenheim at the #IWMDuxford.

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 7d

#OnThisDay in 1944 a Spitfire Mk IX of No. 401 Squadron, RCAF claimed the first Messerschmitt Me 262 shot down by an Allied fighter.

Read our Spitfire profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/british-airc... #ww2 #WorldWar2

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 7d

#OnThisDay in 1937 the Douglas TBD Devastator entered service when United States Navy Squadron VT-3 started to take delivery of the type.

Read our TBD Devastator profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #aviation #history

Reposted by Classic Warbirds

Dr Victoria Taylor @spitfirefilly.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you so much to everyone who has already subscribed to my Substack #AllAndSundry! 🥰 so happy to hear that you've been enjoying my #aviationhistory articles. Whether you'd like to join as a free or paid subscriber, it'd be fabulous to have you...

substack.com/@spitfirefil...

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Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 8d

Burial Service for Pilot Officer Charles Sprack DFM, Pilot Officer Arthur Smart DFM, and Pilot Officer Raymond Moore DFM.

▶️ www.cwgc.org/visit-us/eve...

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 9d

Welcome to our new followers, to get even more warbirds content visit our website at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk and read profiles on over 90 aircraft, a range of articles, our Battle of Britain timeline and our guide to aviation museums.

Classic Warbirds @classicwarbirds.bsky.social · 10d

#OnThisDay in 1942 the first production version of the F6F-3 Hellcat flew. Powered by the 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp engine, it had a top speed of 376 mph.

Read our F6F Hellcat profile at www.classicwarbirds.co.uk/american-air... #ww2 #WorldWar2