Visitors to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre have been set a challenge - to ‘Name That Plane’ from a special display of models.

‘Squadrons’ of black-painted model aircraft from the World War II era are now lined up and visitors can use their skills to identify Friend or Foe. They include British, American, German, Japanese and Italian aircraft, from biplane fighters to early jet aircraft and futuristic German rockets.

The man behind the display is Derek Church, a longtime Sunderland Trust volunteer and also a member of the Penfro Model Club, which meets monthly at the centre.

Said Derek: “Over the years, the Trust has been given many aircraft models and I have drawn upon these collections. They are in 1:72 scale and have all been painted black. In wartime, similar models were made to aid aircraft recognition, for both aircrew and ground crew, and often these models hung from the ceilings of intelligence and briefing rooms on various air stations.

“We have photographic proof that RAF Station Pembroke Dock, which operated flying boats throughout the war, certainly had models for this purpose.”

To date, Derek has repaired, painted and presented nearly 50 models and is working on another ‘squadron’ to add to the display. This is another popular attraction at the centre where an identification ‘key’ is provided.