Two aviation legends from WWII will thunder into action at this summer’s Clacton Airshow, thanks to sponsorship from a business with a Brightlingsea base.
Taking place on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 August, and organised by Tendring District Council, the 2025 show embraces the theme ‘Legends of the Sky’, promising two days of breathtaking aerial displays and family-friendly fun on the ground.
Ørsted, which operates the Gunfleet Sands wind farm and has offices in Tower Street, is sponsoring appearances by the North American P-51D Mustang ‘Jersey Jerk’ and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt ‘Nellie-B’—the largest and heaviest single-seat piston-engine fighter ever built.
This year’s Mustang displays carry a poignant local connection due to the 80th anniversary of the loss of a P-51D off the coast of Clacton during the war. On January 13, 1945, a P-51D Mustang known as ‘Little Zippie’ ditched into the North Sea off Clacton, claiming the life of Flying Officer Raymond E. King.
Decades later, the aircraft was recovered and now forms a centrepiece of the East Essex Aviation Museum in Point Clear, St Osyth.
The 2025 Airshow will feature a whole host of historic and aerobatic aircraft, including the RAF Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On the ground, visitors can enjoy a mix of attractions, including a full-sized replica of a Chinook helicopter.
For updates and more information on the 2025 Clacton Airshow visit www.clactonairshow.com, follow @clactonairshow on X, or go to the official the official Facebook event page.
