A POPULAR air museum has promised an exciting programme of events for the 2004 and 2005 calendar to mark the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Europe.

The Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM), at Elvington, near York, will be holding a series of one and two-day events to mark the anniversary years.

"The Liberation of Europe began with the Normandy Invasion and ended in the eventual triumph of allied forces in 1945," said Ian Dewer, operations manager for the museum.

"The museum, this country's only allied air forces memorial, will be celebrating these momentous events.

"Under the banner logo - 60 Years On - the museum will be remembering the sacrifices of those who gave so much to achieve the freedom we have today."

The museum will also be strengthening its links between British and French air veterans in a number of ways, including opening a YAM France office.

"The modern French Air Force owes its beginning to the first two Halifax equipped French Bomber Squadrons that were formed at RAF Elvington on May 14th 1944," said Mr Dewer. "To celebrate this we are painting one side of our Halifax Bomber in French Air Force markings."