Empire Air Day

Empire Air Day was an annual air show open to the public held at Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the United Kingdom in the 1930s.^[1] According to a speech on by Anthony Muirhead in the House of Commons recorded in Hansard, "The idea of Empire Air Day is that the public should be enabled to see the Royal Air Force at its everyday work. As many stations as possible... are opened to the public on payment of a small charge for admission. At each station a programme of flying is arranged."^[2] The first Empire Air Day was held on 24 May 1934; 90 years ago (1934-05-24).^[3] The last Empire Air Day was held on 20 May 1939; 85 years ago (1939-05-20).^[4]

See also

• Empire Day (later Commonwealth Day)
• Category: Airshows in the United Kingdom

References

1. "Historic Duxford - Empire Air Days". IWM.org.uk. Imperial War Museum Duxford. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
2. "Empire Air Day displays (accidents) - House of Commons Debates - vol 326 cc 3095-100". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 July 1937. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
3. "RAF timeline 1930-1939". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
4. "British Military Aviation in 1939". RAFMuseum.org.uk. Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.