Messerschmitt 109 in RAF colours, WW2

After the Battle of Britain, Duxford also became the home of several specialist units, among them the Air Fighting Development Unit. The AFDU's equipment included captured German aircraft, restored to flying condition for evaluation. The sight of a Messerschmitt Bf109, Junkers 88 or Heinkel III around Duxford at that time did not necessarily have the local people running for cover!

Squadrons with

RAF American Bell Airacobra of 601 Sqdn, Duxford

newly acquired aircraft were posted to Duxford for trials. One of these was No.601 Squadron, the only RAF squadron to be equipped with the unusual American Bell Airacobra. Duxford also played a major part in developing the Hawker Typhoon into a formidable low-level and ground attack fighter and in 1942 the first Typhoon Wing was formed here. The first Wing operation - an offensive sweep over Northern France - took place on 20 June 1942.