Heston tribute to airmen

Thousands of American war veterans braved the rain yesterday to watch the Queen open a military museum built in tribute to US airmen who have served Britain over the past 80 years.

More than 4,000 former servicemen travelled across the Atlantic for the opening of the American Air Museum at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Among them was the veteran actor, Charlton Heston, who flew with the 77th Bomb Squadron during the Second World War.

The museum was built with a pounds 6.5m grant from the National Lottery and donations from US veterans. Mr Heston, 73, paid tribute to fellow actor James Stewart, who was chief fund-raiser for the appeal in America before his death last month.

Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the museum was built in the style of a B52 bomber and houses historic aircraft and archive footage from the Gulf War.