Wings Over Wartime Waves: the Story of RAF Blackpool and the Spitfire Visitor Centre

Born in Blackpool but largely unaware (until working on a new travel PR project), of the huge role that the popular seaside resort played in World War II, Jane Hunt interviews John Coombes, director of award-winning Blackpool visitor attraction, the Spitfire Visitor Centre.     John describes how the atmospheric wartime-themed attraction came about and the history of its home - Hangar 42 - a largely untouched hangar, built in May 1939, where the steel walls might shake but also speak secrets of what happened here during the aerial conflict with Germany and World War II, particularly during the Battle of Britain. Listeners will see Blackpool through different eyes, after learning how the whole town was transformed during the War. They will hear about the men and women who came together in the resort to defend Britain from invasion and win the war. It's a chance to discover the role that Polish and Czech pilots played and why they called Blackpool home.  You can also learn why the resort was the ideal place for a major RAF training base and what those supporting it endured and did for the common cause.   From there, you will discover how the Spitfire Visitor Centre brings this all to life and what you can see there, whether you are an everyday visitor, a school pupil or someone with a particular interest in the military and armed forces.     Hear about a 'world's only' simulator. Discover who wins in the junior battle of the sexes when it comes to certain aviation skills. Pick up a hint of a true bucket-list experience that you could enjoy in a Spitfire and appreciate why Google Earth can be a real friend, at times, when it comes to aviation history.   Try to imagine life at RAF Blackpool, or on a bombing raid to Berlin - another brilliant simulator experience - and be fascinated by a true fact - why Blackpool pretty much escaped being bombed, despite having around 830,000 RAF personnel passing through it during World War II.   Listen to this podcast and then treat yourself to a very different experience in Blackpool, or become a volunteer at the visitor centre and a key storyteller of a story that needs to be told.  And, if you are from Blackpool, take pride in what you learn.   Finally, this is the opportunity to discover why this visitor attraction is much more than just being about planes and is actually a custodian - or reminder - of national identity, in so many ways.