Written by: Holly Tatton, Leeds Beckett University
In October, our Leeds Beckett consultancy project group visited the Yorkshire Air Museum to deepen our understanding of the Cold War to aid us in creating our event week next May!
The Museum known for its large collection of exhibits and artifacts, which provided invaluable insights to the military and geopolitical tensions at the time, and was one of our first visual interactions with Cold War memorabilia.
A COLD WAR RELATION…
The museums impressive collection of Cold War-era aircrafts and artifacts offered a tangible connection to the historic period.
We were particularly fascinated by ‘Nimrod’, which was an anti-submarine aircraft used for surveillance in the Cold War. The ‘Tornado’ display highlighted the advanced aviation and weapons that were developed in this era in preparation. As well as the ‘Buccaneer’ which would have been scrambled from RAF bases in Germany if the Cold War had turned hot!
Throughout our visit, we engaged with our knowledgeable guide Jerry Ibbotson who is a valued member of the network. Narratives of the aircrafts and artifacts and their significance in the Cold War era and beyond were bought to life. This was particularly relevant to our project as the advancements in aviation created a foundation for strategies used and planned in the Cold War.
OUR FAVOURITES AND TAKEAWAYS…
One of the most impactful parts of the day was when we encountered the reconstructed Handley Page Halifax bomber, known as Friday the 13th. This legendary aircraft completed 128 missions in WW2 and bought the crew back safely every time. Standing in front of this aircraft we realised the sheer scale of bravery it’s crews had. It offered our group a important understanding of the technological advancements during the war period and Cold War era.
To conclude, our day at Yorkshire Air Museum was not just a field trip but a pivotal part of our consultancy project and provided insights into more historical underpinnings of the Cold War that we were unaware of before.
This experience will undoubtedly resonate with us as we continue our research, and we cannot wait to visit more sites within the network.
Click the links to watch the videos from the day to experience our adventures first hand!
