READY, aim, fire – Tankfest will be back with a bang next weekend.

The explosive festival returns to Bovington Tank Museum with static displays, guest appearances and air shows.

An original Second World War Douglas C-47 Dakota from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over at Tankfest on both days of the festival.

It became one of the world’s most famous military transport aircraft and saw widespread use by the Allies during World War II and subsequently by Air Forces and civilian operators worldwide.

An original Second World War Spitfire will be flying at Tankfest on both days too; part of the Hangar 11 collection, the Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk XI flew in excess of 40 operational missions over Germany, France and the Netherlands from 1944 to the end of the war.

Guest tanks that will be running in the Tankfest arena this year include a 38t. A 38t is a rare piece of historic armour, constructed by the Czechs and with considerable influence in the early campaigns of the Second World War, that was in the service of the German army.

Some old favourites will also be returning to the arena as well, including the Rolls Royce armoured car, the Leopards, Tiger 131, Comet, Centurion, Chieftain and Matilda I.

And three of the Tank Museum’s Sherman Tanks that featured in the Brad Pitt film Fury last year will be re-united. They will form part of one of the vehicle parades and will also be central to the grand finale battle.

Music will be provided by Weymouth-based close harmony singing group the Decadettes, who will take visitors through the decades with their classics from several different eras, in particularly the 1940s.

The event takes place on June 27 & 28.

visit tankmuseum.org for more information