Fylde Coast, UK — Ambitious plans to build a museum to celebrate the UK’s Fylde coast’s rich aviation history have been revealed.
Campaigners want a permanent reminder to recognise the region’s air heritage, with supporters wanting to build a Fylde Coast Museum of Aviation and Aircraft Manufacturing, linked to the Second World War.
The Lytham St Annes Spitfire Display Team (LSASDT), which previously helped to construct a £120,000 Spitfire Memorial at Fairhaven Lake, hope donations from residents will get the project off the ground.
John Coombes, 48, of the LSASDT, said: “While touring with the team over the last few years, we have visited places in Germany and France and that is where the idea has come from.
“We want to put down some permanent roots. We want to get the public and schools into the museum and use it to celebrate the past history of the Fylde coast.”
The team hope to use the museum to recognise the area’s contribution to aviation, which includes bases such as RAF Squires Gate, RAF Lytham, RAF Freckleton, the Stanley Park Aerodrome and the Warton Aerodrome – once operated by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
Mr Coombes said the project would require donations amounting to at least six-figures, with match funding to start building a permanent legacy to aircraft which flew from the region.
But he revealed no site has been earmarked for the development – and hoped landowners would back the plans.
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