Bottisham secures future

The airfield museum at Bottisham that I visited in 2022 effectively came in to being in 2014 when a charitable trust was formed to look after the on site buildings. However, there was a degree of uncertainty about the future as the museum did not own the area used for outside display, parking and events. However, an agreement has now been reached for the museum to purchase this area and a lease of a further 8 acres agreed which will allow additional parking and a larger area for events, such as car shows.So great news for the museum's future.

Off to Bottisham

Tiger Moth N6635 which used to hang from the rafters at Duxford has apparently been donated to the Bottisham Airfield Museum who also had the replica P51 a while back. I visited Bottisham in 2022 as seen here.

Bottisham Airfield/Museum

Realising that the Bottisham Airfield Museum was only a small detour on my way home yesterday was an opportunity too good to miss especially as it only opens on Sundays!

Bottisham Airfield was opened in 1940 and after some initial use by Tiger Moths it was home to Army Co-opeartion Command Lysanders, Tomahawks and MkI Mustangs until 1942. A number of RAF squadrons then used the field until it was handed to the USAAF in November 1943 under the auspices of the 8th Air Force 361st Fighter Group.

Initially equipped with the P-47 Thunderbolt the group converted to the P-51 Mustang in May 1944 but only had a short service life. The first combat mission was flown in January 1944 and at the end of September the 361st moved to Little Walden, mainly as there were better facilities and concrete runways - Bottisham only ever being grass with PSP.

Back in RAF hands the airfield had little further use and closed for good in January 1946.

A line of trees today marks the PSP runway and the last surviving original buildings have been turned in to a small museum dedicated to the history of Bottisham Airfield and the Home Front as it affected the local area. Parked outside of the museum is a replica P-51 Mustang which was put on display this summer. I understand that it came from Duxford and I assume therefore that this is the former Big Beautiful Doll that used to hang in the American Air Museum there.

The museum is still being developed with some further areas that could come in to use but it is still worthy of an hour to look around.