OPENING and CLOSING TIMES  2013 / 2014.     Free admission

• 2 January to 30 March: 10 AM to 4 PM
• 31 March to 26 October: 10 AM to 5 PM
• 27 October to 30 December: 10 AM to 4 PM
• Free coach and car parking
• Cafeteria

Closed 24 December to 27 December 2013 inclusive, re-opens on 28 December 2013
Closed 31 December 2013, reopens 2 January 2014

The Memorial Building is situated on one of the very few surviving airfields which participated in the Battle of Britain.

RAF Manston was the closest airfield to the enemy coast and bore the brunt of the early Luftwaffe air attacks in the long hot summer of 1940.

Permanently housed at Manston are splendid and original examples of the two World War 2 fighter aircraft which served the Royal Air Force so well in so many areas of battle both at home and overseas.

The Spitfire Memorial Museum Building was officially opened on the 13th June 1981 to house Spitfire TB752 and was the very first building to be erected on any RAF station to house Gate-Guardian aircraft. The building cost some £30,000; the funding for this came from voluntary fund raising efforts and by donation from the people of Thanet.

The Hurricane Memorial Museum Building was officially opened by Dame Vera Lynn on the 7th October 1988 to house Hurricane LF751. The building cost in excess of £100,000, being appreciably larger than the companion building and also provided an area for a sales counter.

The Spitfire and Hurricane are now written into the folklore of this country and it is most fitting that fine examples of these two aircraft are displayed in the County of Kent which witnessed so many of the great air battles of 1940 and the Allied air armadas which followed.

No charge is made for admission but as the Memorial Museum Building is totally self funding a large selection of aviation related items are available for purchase. Donations are most welcome as overheads amount to nearly £2 per visitor.

Coach parties welcome. Prior notice for school parties would be appreciated. Please see our Contact Us page for details

The Merlin Cafeteria

In 1993 the Merlin Cafeteria was opened offering hot and cold meals and drinks. Toilet facilities are available with provision for the handicapped. There is a patio with fine views across the airfield and to Kent International Airport.

The Aircraft

Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI (LF) - Type 361 - Serial TB752 - Sqn Code KH-Z

TB752 is one of the few surviving Spitfires  with a wartime record. She served briefly with 66 Squadron during the early part of 1945 but after a landing accident joined 403 Squadron (RCAF) and very quickly accounted for four German aircraft.

TB752 was totally rebuilt in the latter part of the 1970s to her present pristine condition by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society based at Rochester Airport.

The full history of the aircraft is contained in the booklet entitled “The Manston Spitfire - TB752” available from the sales counter.

Hawker Hurricane IIC - Serial LF751 - (Displayed as BN230 of 43 Squadron) - Sqn Code FT-A

There are very few survivors of this famous fighter and we are especially proud to have a Hurricane on display. LF751 was built at Langley in 1944 and performed valuable service on bomber defence training.

For nearly 30 years she served as “Gate-Guardian” at RAF Bentley Priory before being moved to Rochester Airport in 1985 for restoration by the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society after which she joined her stable mate at Manston in 1988. LF751 was a Scania Trust Award winner in 1993.

Registered Charity No 298229