This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24038255
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Battle of Britain museum opened by Prince Charles | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have opened a museum that commemorates the Battle of Britain. | |
The museum is housed in Bentley Priory, a mansion house that served as RAF Fighter Command's headquarters during World War II. | |
The rooms of the building in Harrow, north London, are now open to the public for the first time in 80 years. | |
The royal couple met veterans including female fighter controllers, and watched a memorial flypast. | |
The female fighter controllers, known as the Beauty Chorus, were wartime members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and played a crucial role in identifying and intercepting incoming Luftwaffe bomber raids. | The female fighter controllers, known as the Beauty Chorus, were wartime members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and played a crucial role in identifying and intercepting incoming Luftwaffe bomber raids. |
Several female veterans from Hampshire, Wokingham, Kent and Dorset, some of whom served at Bentley Priory, were present at the event. | |
'Never gave up' | |
They played a crucial role in identifying and intercepting incoming Luftwaffe bomber raids during World War II. | They played a crucial role in identifying and intercepting incoming Luftwaffe bomber raids during World War II. |
Prince Charles said: "Having just become a grandfather, one of the great things I remember when I was very small is having stories told to me about the war. | |
"I wanted to know everything in those days as I was born in 1948." | |
Saying he had been lucky enough to meet some of those who defended Britain as part of Fighter Command, the prince added: "I at least have some idea of the remarkable nature of such people like, of course, the wonderful lady veterans who are here today from the filter room. | |
"At the age of 18, 19, 20 they were ensuring that this country never gave up." | |
The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust, also unveiled a bust of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding who led RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. | |
Built in the late 18th Century, Bentley Priory is a Grade II-listed building set in 57 acres of parkland. | |
It was an RAF headquarters complex until 2007 when the Ministry of Defence decided to close it. | It was an RAF headquarters complex until 2007 when the Ministry of Defence decided to close it. |
The building is where Air Chief Marshal Dowding planned and commanded the defence of the country during the Battle of Britain. | The building is where Air Chief Marshal Dowding planned and commanded the defence of the country during the Battle of Britain. |
The museum pays respect to the battle's RAF pilots, of whom Winston Churchill said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." | The museum pays respect to the battle's RAF pilots, of whom Winston Churchill said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." |