Kent Trip Overview
This is an extensive tour covering the men, airplanes and tactics of air warfare in the First World War. You will be taken back in time to visit unique airfields and see how these knights of the sky fought and died over 100 years ago. The history of this era is vividly brought to life with a first class guide in Andrew White who is ex RAF.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 days
Starts: Kent, United Kingdom
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Kent Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Kent, England, United Kingdom
This is an extensive tour covering the men, airplanes and tactics of air warfare in the First World War. You will be taken back in time to visit unique airfields and see how these knights of the sky fought and died over 100 years ago. The history of this era is vividly brought to life with a first class guide in Andrew White who is ex RAF.
Itinerary
Day 1: The genesis and evolution of air power and then to France.
Stop At: Stow Maries, Stow Maries, Essex, England
The Aerodrome and aircraft to explain the genesis and evolution of air power.
Stow Maries Aerodrome is a historical airfield which was in use by the Royal Flying Corps (latterly the Royal Air Force) during the First World War. It has been given listed status on account of being the best-preserved airfield from the First World War.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Lunch at the airfield
• Dinner: Dinner at Chateau de Moulin le Comte
Accommodation included: Overnight at Chateau de Moulin le Comte with dinner at the Chateau
Day 2: Birthplace of the RAF
Stop At: Saint-Omer, Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
For most of the First World War St Omer was a major British airfield – the largest on the Western Front – housing both operational squadrons and support units. It was also the site of Headquarters (HQ) RFCRFC – located in a small chateau at the foot of the hill between the town and the airfield. Over 50 of the RFC’s flying squadrons are recorded as having operated from the airfield, some only briefly, but others for extended periods – including 9 and 16 Squadron that were first formed at St Omer.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Arras, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
The Arras Flying Services Memorial Commonwealth War Graves Commission war memorial in the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. The memorial commemorates nearly 1,000 airmen from forces of the Commonwealth who were killed on the Western Front during World War I and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by Edwin Lutyens, sculpted by William Reid Dick and unveiled by Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 31 July 1932.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: Picnic lunch at the airfield
• Dinner: At the L’Hôtel Particulier,
• Breakfast: At the hotel
Accommodation included: Overnight at L’Hôtel Particulier,
Day 3: Crash sites and graves of famous flyers
Stop At: Amiens, Amiens, Somme, Hauts-de-France
Von Richthofen crash site (Vaux sur Somme)
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen, and most famously as the “Red Baron”, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.
He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger fighter wing unit Jagdgeschwader 1, better known as “The Flying Circus” or “Richthofen’s Circus” because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of allied air activity to another – moving like a travelling circus, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields. By 1918, Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies.
Richthofen was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme on 21 April 1918.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Beauval, Beauval, Somme, Hauts-de-France
Vert Galant airfield, is one of the most complete RFC airfields remaining; the airfield from which Albert Ball flew his last sortie.
Home to Number 56 Squadron, nicknamed the Firebirds for their ability to always reappear intact regardless of the odds, is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both the First and Second World Wars
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Auxi-le-Chateau, Auxi-le-Chateau, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
Visit James McCudden’s grave
James Thomas Byford McCudden, VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM (28 March 1895 – 9 July 1918) was an English flying ace of the First World War and among the most highly decorated airmen in British military history.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the hotel
• Lunch: At Beauval
• Dinner: At O Ptit Paradis in Arras
Accommodation included: Mercure Arras Centre Gare
Day 4: Albert Ball
Stop At: Aubigny-en-Artois, Aubigny-en-Artois, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
Aubigny Communal Cemetery
From March 1916 to the Armistice, Aubigny was held by Commonwealth troops and burials were made in the Extension until September 1918. The 42nd Casualty Clearing Station buried in it during the whole period, the 30th in 1916 and 1917, the 24th and 1st Canadian in 1917 (during the capture of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps) and the 57th in 1918. The Extension now contains 2,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and seven from the Second World War. There are also 227 French burials made prior to March 1916, and 64 German war graves.
There are graves of several airmen including that of Jack Lidsey, 29th victim of the Red Baron.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Annoeullin, Annoeullin, Nord, Hauts-de-France
Albert Ball’s crash site and grave
Albert Ball, VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC (14 August 1896 – 7 May 1917) At the time of his death he was the United Kingdom’s leading flying ace, with 44 victories, and remained its fourth-highest scorer behind Edward Mannock, James McCudden, and George McElroy.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: At the hotel
• Lunch: Les Salons du Manoir
No accommodation included on this day.
