Immerse yourself in real stories from the First World War, Second World War and contemporary conflict at the airfield that made history.
IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, is set to host the inaugural IWM History Festival in March.
Professor Richard Overy, Iain MacGregor and Joshua Levine have all been confirmed for the two-day event taking place at IWM Duxford on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.
The new festival will showcase IWM’s extensive collection of historic items alongside the expertise of IWM curators, book signings from leading historical authors, object handling sessions, and the opportunity for visitors to engage with veterans of conflict.
Iain MacGregor, author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad: The Hidden Truth at the Heart of WWII's Greatest Battle, said: “As a publisher of military history, Duxford has meant a great deal to me over the past 30 years.
“I have chatted with Battle of Britain veterans marvelling at seeing their beloved Spitfire flying above their heads, and spent many hours at shows, seated behind my publisher's table answering questions from book buyers.
“Now, as an author in my own right, I am now very much looking forward to engaging with lovers of modern military history at the upcoming IWM History Festival.
“Their collection is unsurpassed and by combining it with an impressive range of speakers, it will be one of the standout history festivals of the summer."
The IWM History Festival will give audiences the chance to choose from a packed line-up of expert talks, author signings and themed sessions to build their own immersive, history-filled programme during their visit.
Taking place amongst the historic surrounds of IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire, sessions include bestselling author Damien Lewis’s SAS Brothers in Arms talk on the riveting birth story of the SAS, award-winning author and broadcaster Clare Mulley’s talk about the only two women to fly for Hitler, and hear first-hand from a Royal Navy veteran about his experience as a fighter pilot in Afghanistan.
Alongside these well-known names, IWM’s own expert curators will be leading talks on topics such as HMS Belfast and the Arctic Convoys, Black Americans in Britain during the Second World War, behind the scenes from Churchill War Rooms and stories of how IWM was founded in the midst of the First World War.
Adrian Kerrison, IWM curator and speaker at IWM History Festival, said: “I am delighted to be taking part in IWM’s first History Festival alongside a fantastic line-up of history experts, authors and witnesses to conflict.
“Through my session on the first Spitfire Squadron, I will delve into the history of RAF Duxford, the home of the operational Spitfire, and tell the story of 19 Squadron who were amongst the first fighter pilots to fly this iconic aircraft to ensure it was ready for war.
“I look forward to welcoming visitors to this first event of its kind at a site where real history happened.”
Other events will include the opportunity to get up close and look inside the cockpit of the Avro Lancaster and Spitfire N3200, as well as the special screening of the film, The Battle of the Ancre and Advance of the Tanks (1917), showing the epic struggle of the British army against the Germans in 1916.
Tickets to IWM History Festival are £40 per day and are on sale now. Attendees who wish to visit IWM Duxford in between the sessions may purchase a separate discounted general admissions ticket for just £8.
For more, visit www.iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-history-festival
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