‘Spit-Fire at the Museum’ expo begins Bahrain today

Manama : On the occasion of celebrating 200 years of the Bahraini-British relationship an exhibition titled “Spit-Fire at the Museum” will begin at Bahrain National Museum today at 11am under the patronage of HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of His Majesty the King. 

The exhibition will continue till October 23, from 8am to 8pm, informed Supreme Council for Environment and Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) officials at a press conference here yesterday.  

The United Kingdom and Bahrain have enjoyed a close and enduring friendship, dating back to 1820 when a treaty of protection was signed between the British Government and the Shaikhs of Bahrain.

In 1928, the Royal Air Force (RAF) began surveying the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf, where they established a number of airfields and flying boat bases. The cooperation between the RAF and the Shaikhs of Bahrain included granting the RAF use of the airfield at Manama, and later on in Muharraq once the new airspace was built. After 1932, Bahrain played a pivotal role for the RAF as a refueling stop for both landplanes and flying boats on Imperial Airways routes to India.

For over 80 years, the RAF has been playing an active role in the defense of Bahrain. During World War II, the RAF undertook the defense of Bahrain while donations collected from the people of Bahrain through public subscription contributed to the Gulf Fighter Funds, raising £50,000, which paid for 10 spitfire aircraft operated by the RAF. 

An additional six aircraft were purchased using funds raised in Bahrain.

“This exhibition celebrates the 200th anniversary of the close relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom. The display illustrates the shared aviation heritage of Bahrain and the UK and centres on an iconic World War II spitfire provided by the RAF Museum,” the organisers added.