The weekend of June 5th/6th saw a great many commerative events held across the country. With www.airmuseumsuk.org essentially a one man site, choosing which show to attend was always going to be a tricky decision. I had originally intended to attend Duxford this weekend but the relative weakness of their aircraft line-up prompted me to look elsewhere and, as it turned out, the final decision was not that difficult after all. The Shuttleworth Collection was promising an impressive display, and the promised presence of a Messerschmitt Bf 108 as well as a Mustang was more than tempting - a Mustang at Old Warden was a must see event!

I arrived at Old Warden halfway throught the morning and the airfield was a hive of activity. The first aircraft I saw was none other than the ANEC II which was about to take to the skies for the first time in about sixty years!. This was obviously quite a special event and, although it was obviously not part of the official display, I make no apology for including shots of this occasion! The ANEC II spent a good hour aloft and signs look good for it making an appearance at a display in the near future. Arrivals through the morning included the RAF Glider Display team, Miles Messenger and Piper Cub. Unfortunately we were to see no more of the Cub (aircraft which appear on the cover of Shuttleworth programmes do appear to be jinxed!) as engine problems kept it grounded for the rest of the display.

There were a number of D-Day themed activities dotted aroung the grounds; the Bofors gun was very popular with the younger generation and there were a number of German soldiers around (looking far too relaxed for my liking!). About half an hour before the display there was a reenactment of a Typhoon Squadron briefing and, shortly before the show began, a visit from a very convincing Winston Churchill (pictured here with commentator Peter Knyvett).

The Flight Line featured most of Shuttleworth's "usual suspects" with the addition of the Chipmunks and Swift Gliders of the RAF Glider Display Team, Peter Teichmann's P-51D Mustang (looking splendid in the sunshine) together with the Ryan Recruit adding an American flavour to the occasion. The Piper Cub added a welcome sight of an aircraft sporting D-Day stripes and the Messerschmitt Bf 108 was the sole representative of the Luftwaffe. I did manage to have a quick look around the hangars - Hangar 1 was off limits - and there was very little new to report - except that the Flying Flea and the Pilcher glider were now suspended from the roof in Hangar 6 - an obvious sign that hangar space is now very much at a premium at Shuttleworth!

The Display itself started off with two visitors to Shuttleworth - the twin Swifts from the RAF Glider Display Team and a visiting Jet Provost III. The collection's Avro Nineteen then gave it's usual polished display (no embarrassing runway incidents this time!) and was followed by a trio of Moths, the Tiger and Hornet from the Collection who were joined on this occasion by a silver visiting Tiger from www.angelsonefive.com (who now appear to operate from Old Warden). These aircraft gave an excellent demonstration of close formation flying.

The next display spot featured an aircraft new to Shuttleworth, the Ryan Recruit flown by Sir John Allison - it's unique engine clatter adding a new dimension to the Shuttleworth experience. Next was one of the highlights of the afternoon - the appearance of the Messerchsmitt Bf 108. Technically this aircraft, owned by Simon O'Connell, is a Nord 1002 (a Messerschmitt Bf 108 built in France under licence), and has recently taken to the air again after an accident at White Waltham in 2000. This aircraft now sports the Desert camouflage colour scheme of a 108 which was flown on active service in Libya in 1942. This attempted to bomb a allied gun position (out of my line of sight so no photos I'm afraid).

Then - with not a great deal to do with D-Day but an expected feature of any Shuttleworth event - we had the World War One aircraft, represented by the Brisfit (for the first time this year) SE5a, Sopwith Triplane and Avro 504. How many other D-Day Commeration shows have aircraft which predate the event by 30 or so years?

The American theme continued with the arrival of Tony Haig-Thomas' Grumman Avenger which made a couple of passes, landed and showed off its folding wing capacity as it taxied in. This left the centre stage to the P-51D Mustang. This is probably not the first time that a Mustang has displayed at Shuttleworth but it was the first time one has taken off from Old Warden, as the lengthening of the main runway has made possible. This was a polished performance from Peter Teichmann especially when you consider that this was only his second display in this aircraft.

Three representatives of the collection's RAF trainers, 2 Magisters (one Peter Holloway's) and the Chipmunk, were up next and followed by another arrival from Duxford, the Apache Longbow, which gave us the opportunity of a good look before departing for it's home at Middle Wallop.

After the Magisters we had another example of the products of the Miles Aviation Company, the Messenger (which, with the Gemini present on the flightline made a total of three examples of Miles aircraft present!) This aircraft was a Mk.2A which has been painted in the markings of RG333 - Field Marshal Montgomery's personal aircraft. I had only seen this aircraft once before, at a gloomy static display at Yeovilton. It was good to see it finally in the air!

Examples of various RAF types from the Shuttleworth Collection then took to the air, the Tomtit, Gladiator, Hind and Hurricane (the latter two giving examples of extremely close formation flying), and finally the Spitfire, which was given centre stage for its own solo display, always one of the highlights of a Shuttleworth show. I don't know if the pilot - Andy Sephton - was inspired by the occasion but I do have to say that was the best display I have ever seen from the Shuttleworth Spitfire and the hush that settled over the crowd showed that I wasn't the only one to think so. This memory will stay with me for a long time to come.

Finally we were treated to the Avro Triplane, Bristol Boxkite and Blackburn Monoplane. As with the World War One aircraft earlier, they were not much to do with the D-Day theme but are always very welcome sights at Shuttleworth Air Displays. It should be noted that this was the third display in a row where this trio has taken to the air. Anyone who has not seen these aircraft fly at Shuttleworth should make the effort to do so - it is really an experience not to be missed!

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