Join us for a talk 'The Lysander and the SOE' by Debbie Lands followed by tea and cake. Admission to the Centre is not included in this ticket. The talk will be held in the function room of the NAAFI at 2pm. If you would like to visit the museum as well the admission fee will be payable as an additional ticket.
SECRET WAR
The Lysander’s Clandestine Role in SOE Operations
In 1940, after the fall of France, Churchill decreed he wanted to ‘set Europe ablaze’ and as part of the plans, the Special Operations Executive was created in July that year. Agents were recruited, trained and supported from various locations across the southern part of the United Kingdom.
In order to transport the Agents into Europe and back, the Lysander aircraft was identified as suitable for the role, due to its short take-off and landing capability, and during this talk we focus on one of only two airworthy Lysander aircraft in the UK, based at the Shuttleworth Collection.
Information is provided on the aircraft, the operations and the pilots that flew them, as well as the role of the Agents in supporting clandestine operations.
Speaker Profile
DEBBIE LAND
One of 3 keynote speakers, Debbie has been an active volunteer at the Shuttleworth Collection for the past 12 years. Debbie spent 10 years in the WRAF (flying a desk), followed by a successful career as a Payroll Consultant and is now retired. All a long way removed from being an advocate for The Shuttleworth Collection which symbolises the evolution of transportation from the Victorian / Edwardian era to World War II.
Her first visit to Old Warden was in the mid-60s when her favourite Uncle took her to visit the site of the Shuttleworth family and, thereafter, ensued a life-long love of the small aerodrome and family home nestled in the Bedfordshire countryside with its resident historic aircraft and vintage vehicles. Having started out as a speaker, her involvement at Shuttleworth now extends to looking after the Collection’s Costume and Carriage collections.
