European Must See Spots?

[Django]

My wife wants to go to Europe before we start a family. She spent a semester in Italy 10 years ago and has the itch to go back. I've never been, so I think it will be a great experience. I already told here that if we are going all the way to Europe, I simply MUST see a few WWII sites or museums.

Any favorites amongst the WIXers?

She wants to see Italy again. We've discussed Spain. I "think" the best spots for WWII avaiation would be in England or France. But please, enlighten me!

[Paul Patist]

Maybe visiting some who flew them at:

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/fl.php

[Bill Greenwood]

That's like asking about good bar-b-que in Texas! Perhaps no.1 in England is Duxford about 50 miles north of London wiith 5 museums on site, plus warbird flying on weekends and restoration shops, bookstore. Then the non flying museum at Hendon in London and there are another half dozen great places, not to mention the non aviation ones like the Tower of London castle. The Queen has some nice trinkets in there. In France, I'd want to see the Normandy beaches, don't know much about the interior except Lourve? in Paris. Driving in some places is uneasy, I went on a great warbird bus tour.

[Mike]

UK must-sees are Duxford, Old Warden for a flying display (every 2 weeks in the summer), plus Hendon, Science Museum and Imperial War Museum (last 3 all in London, easily reachable by public transport). Cosford and Newark are both worth a visit, as are the Mosquito Museum at Salisbury Hall, just North of London and the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton in Somerset.

Italy, Italian AF Museum at Vigne di Valle, just outside Rome.

France, Le Bourget, just outside Paris

Spain, Spanish AF Museum and Fundacion Infante d'Orleans, both at Cuatro Vientos, just outside Madrid.

Belgium, Brussels Air Museum

Aviodrome at Lelystadt in the Netherlands.

Germany, Berlin Technical Museum and Deutches Museum in Munich, Luftwaffe Museum at Gatow near Berlin, Sinsheim and Speyer both have good musums too.

Swiss AF Museum at Dubendorf

Swedish AF Museum at Linkoping

Google will bring up directions, opening times and details of exhibits at all of these.

[Firebird]

My wife wants to go to Europe before we start a family. She spent a semester in Italy 10 years ago and has the itch to go back. I've never been, so I think it will be a great experience. I already told here that if we are going all the way to Europe, I simply MUST see a few WWII sites or museums.

Any favorites amongst the WIXers?

She wants to see Italy again. We've discussed Spain. I "think" the best spots for WWII avaiation would be in England or France. But please, enlighten me!

Aviation related, yes, UK and France would be best....Duxford, Old Warden and RAFM Hendon the pick from the UK, as well as the US Memorial at Madingley.

WW2 sites, well take your pick from all over Europe....from Anzio up to Normandy and St.Nazire, across to the Ardennes, Arnhem and on to Berlin.......

[Mudge]

Mrs. Mudge & I are going to do the "American Experience" and the "Band of Brothers" tours from Bayeux (Normandy) in June/July. I'll be happy to report the experience (with pictures) when we get back. You, however, probably don't want to wait that long.

I agree with the other suggestions about Duxford, Hendon, et. al. If you can make Duxford for "Flying Legends", [July 7 & 8], you'll never forget it.
Word of caution about Hendon. If you want to get pictures of everything there, take a good camera and a tripod. Some of the displays are in very low light. Took me 3 visits to get the pictures I wanted.

Mudge the traveller

ps Having BTDT, you'd better do a LOT of things before you start a family, 'cause afterwards.............

[JDK]

Good advice so far!

To Mike's excellent list, I'd add the Dutch Military Aviation Museum at Soesterberg, and the Polish aviation collection, Krakow, as 'must sees'.

[mennie]

I'd say, from where I have been:
RAF Museum Hendon (free)
RAF Goxhill Airfield (private property)
Military Aviation Museum Soesterberg (free)
Imperial War Museum Duxford

I would avoid the Aviodrome.

[JDK]

I would avoid the Aviodrome.

Not again. Why? Whatever your problem with the Aviodrome, it remains one of the world's most significant aviation museums.

For those of us brought up on the history of aviation with Spitfires, Mustangs and Messerschmitts, it's probably the best way to come to understand Holland's great achievements in aviation. Oh, and how many other museums have built (new) a pre-W.W.II airport terminal from scratch?

[Django]

Thanks for the listings! I have alot to reserach now.

It would be cool to see Anzio. My grandma's brother was there, got shell shock, and was never quite right the rest of his life.

[André]

Not really known to many but La Ferté Alais airport some 30km South of Paris should be on your wishlist as well !

Not sure when you want to visit Europe but their airshow is well worth visiting. 26 and 27 May 2007

Personally, I love it more than Duxford where people face the sun all day during the show.

http://www.meetingferte.com/site/accueil.php

Some 2005 show photo's :
http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... 873.0.html

Cheers, André