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        Empire Day at Duxford

        Duxford pilots pull out all the stops for a spectacular display for the Empire Air Day.

        Amateur film 1937 2 mins Silent

        From the collection of:

        Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

        Overview

        The Empire Air Days started at Duxford in the 1920s and attracted massive crowds of aircraft enthusiasts and aspiring pilots to marvel at the planes in action. Cambridge lecturer Trevor Spittle was there in the late 30s to capture the excitement as aircraft roared overhead to a spellbound audience. Research suggests this display is in 1937, just after King George VI's coronation.

        Empire Day was a day of national celebration for Britain and her colonies and took place on 24th May every year from 1904 until 1958 giving people the chance to show their pride in being part of the British Empire.